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■ ■■ 

































UNCLE REMUS AND THE LITTLE BOY 

































NIGHTS WITH 
UNCLE REMUS 


BY 

JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS 

w 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MILO WINTER j 



BOSTON AND NEW YORK 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 

(£be ftitieitfjbe CambriDge 
1917 




COPYRIGHT, lS8l, 18S3, I909, AND 19U, BY THE CENTURY CO. 
COPYRIGHT, 1883, BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS 
COPYRIGHT, I9II, BY ESTHER LA ROSE HARRIS 

b 

COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 


Published October iqij 


< 3 . 00 




©O'. 4 7 3 9 0 9 



PUBLISHERS’ NOTE 


Nights with Uncle Remus is a story-book dearly loved by 
children. Besides that, it is an important contribution to the 
study of Afro-American folk-lore, and through many years of 
popularity it has carried a long and learned Introduction, of great 
interest to students but rather forbidding in aspect to youthful 
readers. In this new edition, which has been prepared especially 
for children, and illustrated in colors by an artist who knows how 
to please them as well as their elders, the Introduction has been 
omitted, but the stories and their charming setting have been 
left intact. 

June , 1917 




I. Mr. Fox and Miss Goose . . .3 

II. Brer Fox catches Mr. Horse.7 

III. Brer Rabbit and the Little Girl.11 

IV. Brer Fox copies Brer Rabbit.14 

V. Brer Rabbit’s Astonishing Prank.18 

VI. Brer Rabbit secures a Mansion. 22 

- VII. Mr. Lion hunts for Mr. Man. 27 

VIII. The Story of the Pigs.31 

IX. Mr. Benjamin Ram and his Wonderful Fiddle ... 35 

X. Brer Rabbit’s Riddle.41 

XI. How Mr. Rooster lost his Dinner.49 

XII. Brer Rabbit breaks up a Party.53 

XIII. Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, and King Deer’s Daughter . . 58 

XIV. Brer Terrapin deceives Brer Buzzard.62 

XV. Brer Fox covets the Quills.66 

XVI. How Brer Fox failed to get his Grapes.70 

XVII. Brer Fox figures as an Incendiary.75 

XVIII. A Dream and a Story.79 

XIX. The Moon in the Mill-Pond.83 

XX. Brer Rabbit takes some Exercise.89 

XXI. Why Brer Bear has no Tail.97 

XXII. How Brer Rabbit frightened iiis Neighbors .... 100 

XXIII. Mr. Man has some Meat.105 

XXIV. How Brer Rabbit got the Meat.108 

vii 

























CONTENTS 


XXV. African Jack.112 

XXVI. Why the Alligator’s Back is Rough.119 

XXVII. Brer Wolf says Grace.123 

XXVIII. Spirits, Seen and Unseen.129 

XXIX. A Ghost Story.134 

XXX. Brer Rabbit and his Famous Foot.141 

XXXI. “In some Lady’s Garden”.149 

XXXII. Brer ’Possum gets in Trouble.156 

XXXIII. Why the Guinea-Fowls are speckled.162 

XXXIV. Brer Rabbit’s Love-Charm.166 

XXXV. Brer Rabbit submits to a Test.170 

XXXVI. Brer Wolf falls a Victim.174 

XXXVII. Brer Rabbit and the Mosquitoes.179 

XXXVIII. The Pimmerly Plum.185 

XXXIX. Brer Rabbit gets the Provisions.195 

XL. “Cutta Cord-La!”.200 

XLI. Aunt Tempy’s Story.204 

XLIL The Fire-Test.209 

XLIII. The Cunning Snake.214 

XLIV. How Brer Fox was too Smart.218 

XLV. Brer Wolf gets in a Warm Place.225 

XLVI. Brer Wolf still in Trouble.229 

XLVII. Brer Rabbit lays in his Beef Supply .... 234 

XLVIII. Brer Rabbit and Mr. Wildcat.238 

XLIX. Mr. Benjamin Ram defends Himself.245 

L. Brer Rabbit pretends to be Poisoned.249 

LI. More Trouble for Brer Wolf.253 

LII. Brer Rabbit outdoes Mr. Man.256 

LIII. Brer Rabbit takes a Walk.260 

viii 






















CONTENTS 


LIV. Old Grinny-Granny Wolf.263 

LV. How Wattle Weasel was caught.267 

LVI. Brer Rabbit ties Mr. Lion.272 

LVII. Mr. Lion’s Sad Predicament.276 

LVIII. The Origin of the Ocean.279 

LIX. Brer Rabbit gets Brer Fox’s Dinner.283 

LX. How the Bear nursed the Little Alligators . . .291 

LXI. Why Mr. Dog runs Brer Rabbit.295 

LXII. Brer Wolf and the Horned Cattle.298 

LXIII. Brer Fox and the White Muscadines.302 

LXIV. Mr. Hawk and Brer Buzzard.306 

LXV. Mr. Hawk and Brer Rabbit.309 

LXVI. The Wise Bird and the Foolish Bird.312 

LXVII. Old Brer Terrapin gets some Fish.315 

LXVIII. Brer Fox makes a Narrow Escape.318 

LXIX. Brer Fox’s Fish-Trap.321 

LXX. Brer Rabbit rescues Brer Terrapin.325 

LXXI. The Night before Christmas.333 































% 








% 













Uncle Remus and the Little Boy. Frontispiece 

“He to’ down a whole panel er fence gittin’ ’way fum dar” . 20 

“Brer Rabbit turnt ’er aloose, en down she come — ker-swosh /” 44 

‘“Brer Tarrypin, please lemme go!’”.68 

Ah-YI! You OUGHTER AX ME DAT FUS’, BrER COON ’ ” .... 92 

“Brer Rabbit fotch a wiggle, he did, en lit on he foots”. . 128 

‘“Ef you git any mo’ sense, Son Riley, you’ll be de ruination ev 
DE WHOLE SETTLEMENT’” .174 

“De little Rabs, dey PROMISE DAT dey won’t open de do’ fer no¬ 
body” .212 

“En, bless gracious! DEM ar creeturs racked off fum dar en lef’ 
ole Brer Wolf und’ dat ar rock”.232 

“He sorter hunch Brer Possum in de short ribs, en ax ’im how he 
come on”.268 

“ ‘ I DUNNER W’EN I BIN SO SORRY ’BOUT ANYTHING EZ I IS ’BOUT BrER 
Fox NICE LONG tail’ ”. 286 

“He git de finest mess er fish you mos’ ever laid yo’ eyes on” . 324 

































V 




\V 
































































































• H 11 
































































I • 

. 




















































NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


i 

MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE 

It had been raining all day so that Uncle Remus found it impossi¬ 
ble to go out. The storm had begun, the old man declared, just 
as the chickens were crowing for day, and it had continued almost 
without intermission. The dark gray clouds had blotted out the 
sun, and the leafless limbs of the tall oaks surrendered themselves 
drearily to the fantastic gusts that drove the drizzle fitfully before 
them. The lady to whom Uncle Remus belonged had been 
thoughtful of the old man, and ’Tildy, the house-girl, had been 
commissioned to carry him his meals. This arrangement came to 
the knowledge of the little boy at supper time, and he lost no 
time in obtaining permission to accompany ’Tildy. 

Uncle Remus made a great demonstration over the thoughtful 
kindness of his “Miss Sally.” 

“Ef she ain’t one blessid w’ite ’oman,” he said, in his simple, 
fervent way, “den dey ain’t none un um ’roun’ in deze parts.” 

With that he addressed himself to the supper, while the little 
boy sat by and eyed him with that familiar curiosity common to 
children. Finally the youngster disturbed the old man with an 
inquiry: — 

“Uncle Remus, do geese stand on one leg all night, or do they 
sit down to sleep?” 

“Tooby sho’ dey does, honey; dey sets down same ez you does. 
Co’se, dey don’t cross der legs,” he added, cautiously, “kase dey 
sets down right flat-footed.” 

“Well, I saw one the other day, and he was standing on one 
' 3 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

foot, and I watched him and watched him, and he kept on 
standing there.” 

“Ez ter dat,” responded Uncle Remus, “dey mought stan’ on 
one foot en drap off ter sleep en fergit deyse’f. Deze yer gooses,” 
he continued, wiping the crumbs from his beard with his coat-tail, 
“is mighty kuse fowls; deyer mighty kuse. In ole times dey 
wuz ’mongs de big-bugs, en in dem days, w’en ole Miss Goose 
gun a-dinin’, all de quality wuz dere. Likewise, en needer wuz 
dey stuck-up, kase wid all der kyar’n’s on, Miss Goose wer’n’t too 
proud fer ter take in washin’ fer de neighborhoods, en she make 
money, en get slick en fat lak Sis Tempy. 

“Dis de way marters stan’ w’en one day Brer Fox en Brer Rab¬ 
bit, dey wuz settin’ up at de cotton-patch, one on one side de 
fence, en t’er one on t’er side, gwine on wid one er n’er, w’en 
fus’ news dey know, dey year sump’n — blim, blim , blim! 

“Brer Fox, he ax w’at dat fuss is, en Brer Rabbit, he up’n 
’spon’ dat it’s ole Miss Goose down at de spring. Den Brer Fox, 
he up’n ax w’at she doin’, en Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat she 
battlin’ cloze.” 

“Battling clothes, Uncle Remus?” said the little boy. 

“Dat w’at dey call it dem days, honey. Deze times, dey rubs 
cloze on deze yer bodes w’at got furrers in um, but dem days 
dey des tuck’n tuck de cloze en lay um out on a bench, en ketch 
holt er de battlin’-stick en natally paddle de fillin’ outen um. 

“W’en Brer Fox year dat ole Miss Goose wuz down dar 
dabblin’ in soapsuds en washin’ cloze, he sorter lick he chops, en 
’low dat some er dese odd-come-shorts he gwine ter call en pay 
he ’specks. De minnit he say dat, Brer Rabbit, he know sump’n’ 
’uz up, en he ’low ter hisse’f dat he ’speck he better whirl in en 
have some fun w’iles it gwine on. Bimeby Brer Fox up’n say ter 
Brer Rabbit dat he bleedzd ter be movin’ ’long todes home, en 
wid dat dey bofe say good-bye. 

“Brer Fox, he put out ter whar his fambly wuz, but Brer 
4 


MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE 


Rabbit, he slip ’roun’, he did, en call on ole Miss Goose. Ole Miss 
Goose she wuz down at de spring, washin’, en balin’, en battlin’ 
cloze; but Brer Rabbit he march up en ax her howdy, en den she 
tuck’n ax Brer Rabbit howdy. 

“‘I’d shake han’s ’long wid you, Brer Rabbit,’ sez she, ‘but 
dey er all full er suds,’ sez she. 

“‘No marter ’bout dat, Miss Goose,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 
‘so long ez yo’ will’s good,’ sezee.” 

“A goose with hands, Uncle Remus!” the little boy ex¬ 
claimed. 

“How you know goose ain’t got han’s?” Uncle Remus inquired, 
with a frown. “Is you been sleepin’ longer ole man Know-All? 
Little mo’ en you’ll up’n stan’ me down dat snakes ain’t got no 
foots, and yit you take en lay a snake down yer ’fo’ de fier, en his 
foots ’ll come out right ’fo’ yo’ eyes.” 

Uncle Remus paused here, but presently continued: — 

“Atter ole Miss Goose en Brer Rabbit done pass de time er 
day wid one er n’er, Brer Rabbit, he ax; ’er, he did, how she 
come on deze days, en Miss Goose say, mighty po’ly. 

“‘I’m gittin’ stiff en I’m gittin’ clumpsy,’ sez she, ‘en mo’n 
dat I’m gittin’ bline,’ sez she. ‘Des ’fo’ you happen ’long, Brer 
Rabbit, I drap my specks in de tub yer, en ef you’d ’a’ come ’long 
’bout dat time,’ sez ole Miss Goose, sez she, ‘I lay I’d er tuck you 
for dat nasty, owdashus Brer Fox, en it ud er bin a born blessin’ 
ef I had n’t er scald you wid er pan er b’ilin’ suds,’ sez she. ‘ I’m 
dat glad I foun’ my specks I dunner w’at ter do,’ sez ole Miss 
Goose, sez she. 

“Den Brer Rabbit, he up’n say dat bein’s how Sis Goose done 
fotch up Brer Fox name, he got sump’n’ fer ter tell ’er, en den 
he let out ’bout Brer Fox gwine ter call on ’er. 

“‘He cornin’,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; ‘he cornin’ sho’, en w’en 
he come hit’ll be des ’fo’ day,’ sezee. 

“Wid dat, ole Miss Goose wipe ’er han’s on ’er apun, en put 

5 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

’er specks up on ’er forrerd, en look lak she done got trouble in 
’er mine. 

“‘Laws-a-massy!’ sez she, ‘spozen he come, Brer Rabbit! 
W’at I gwine do? En dey ain’t a man ’bout de house, n’er,’ sez 
she. 

“Den Brer Rabbit, he shot one eye, en he say, sezee: — 

“‘Sis Goose, de time done come w’en you bleedzd ter roos’ 
high. You look lak you got de dropsy,’ sezee, ‘but don’t mine 
dat, kase ef you don’t roos’ high, youer goner,’ sezee. 

“Den ole Miss Goose ax Brer Rabbit w’at she gwine do, en 
Brer Rabbit he up en tell Miss Goose dat she mus’ go home en tie 
up a bundle er de w’ite folks’ cloze, en put um on de bed, en den 
she mus’ fly up on a rafter, en let Brer Fox grab de cloze en run 
off wid um. 

“Ole Miss Goose say she much ’blige, en she tuck’n tuck her 
things en waddle off home, en dat night she do lak Brer Rabbit 
say wid de bundle er cloze, en den she sont wud ter Mr. Dog, en 
Mr. Dog he come down, en say he’d sorter set up wid ’er. 

“Des ’fo’ day, yer come Brer Fox creepin’ up, en he went en 
push on de do’ easy, en de do’ open, en he see sump’n’ w’ite on 
de bed w’ich he took fer Miss Goose, en he grab it en run. ’Bout 
dat time Mr. Dog sail out fum und’ de house, he did, en ef Brer 
Fox had n’t er drapt de cloze, he’d er got kotch. Fum dat, wud 
went ’roun’ dat Brer Fox bin tryin’ ter steal Miss Goose cloze, 
en he come mighty nigh losin’ his stannin’ at Miss Meadows. 
Down ter dis day,” Uncle Remus continued, preparing to fill his 
pipe, “Brer Fox b’leeve dat Brer Rabbit wuz de ’casion er Mr. 
Dog bein’ in de neighborhoods at dat time er night, en Brer 
Rabbit ain’t ’spute it. De bad feelin’ ’twix’ Brer Fox en Mr. Dog 
start right dar, en hits bin agwine on twel now dey ain’t git in 
smellin’ distuns er one er n’er widout dey’s a row.” 


6 


BRER FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE 


II 

BRER FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE 

There was a pause after the story of old Miss Goose. The cul¬ 
mination was hardly {sensational enough to win the hearty 
applause of the little boy, and this fact appeared to have a 
depressing influence upon Uncle Remus. As he leaned slightly 
forward, gazing into the depths of the great fireplace, his attitude 
was one of pensiveness. 

“I ’speck I done wo’ out my welcome up at de big house,” he 
said, after a while. “I mos’ knows I is,” he continued, setting 
himself resignedly in his deep-bottomed chair. “Kase de las’ 
time I uz up dar, I had my eye on Miss Sally mighty nigh de 
whole blessid time, en w’en you see Miss Sally rustlin’ ’roun’ 
makin’ lak she Axin’ things up dar on de mantle-shelf, en bouncin’ 
de cheers ’roun’, en breshin’ dus’ whar dey ain’t no dus’, en 
flyin’ ’roun’ singin’ sorter louder dan common, den I des knows 
sump’n’ done gone en rile ’er.” 

“Why, Uncle Remus!” exclaimed the little boy; “Mamma was 
just glad because I was feeling so good.” 

“Mought er bin,” the old man remarked, in a tone that was 
far from implying conviction. “Ef ’t wa’n’t dat, den she wuz 
gittin’ tired er seein’ me lounjun’ ’roun’ up dar night atter night, 
en ef’t wa’n’t dat, den she wuz watchin’ a chance fer ter preach 
ter yo’ pa. Oh, I done bin know Miss Sally long fo’ yo’ pa is!” 
exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to the astonishment depicted 
upon the child’s face. “I bin knowin’ ’er sence she wuz so high, 
en endurin’ er all dat time I ain’t seed no mo’ up’n spoken’ w’ite 
’oman dan w’at Miss Sally is. 

“But dat ain’t needer yer ner dar. You done got so youk’n 
rush down yer des like you useter, en we kin set yer en smoke, en 

7 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


tell tales, en study up ’musements same like we wuz gwine on ’fo’ 
you got dat splinter in yo’ foot. 

“I mines me er one time” — with an infectious laugh — “w’en 
ole Brer Rabbit got Brer Fox in de wuss trubble w’at a man wuz 
mos’ ever got in yit, en dat ’uz w’en he fool ’im ’bout de hoss. 
Ain’t I never tell you ’bout dat? But no marter ef I is. Hoe- 
cake ain’t cook done good twel hit’s turnt over a couple er 
times. 

“Well, atter Brer Fox done git rested fum keepin’ out er de 
way er Mr. Dog, en sorter ketch up wid his rations, he say ter 
hisse’f dat he be dog his cats ef he don’t slorate ole Brer Rabbit 
ef it take ’im a mont’; en dat, too, on top er all de ’spe’unce w’at 
he done bin had wid um. Brer Rabbit he sorter git win’ er dis, en 
one day, w’iles he gwine ’long de road studyin’ how he gwineter 
hoi’ he hand wid Brer Fox, he see a great big Hoss layin’ stretch 
out flat on he side in de pastur’; en he tuck’n crope up, he did, 
fer ter see ef dish yer Hoss done gone en die. He crope up en he 
crope ’roun’, en bimeby he see de Hoss switch he tail, en den 
Brer Rabbit know he ain’t dead. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit lope back 
ter de big road, en mos’ de fus’ man w’at he see gwine on by wuz 
Brer Fox, en Brer Rabbit he tuck atter ’im, en holler: — 

“‘Brer Fox! 0 Brer Fox! Comeback! I got some good news 
fer you. Come back, Brer Fox,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox, he tu’n ’roun’, he did, en w’en he see who callin’ 
’im, he come gallopin’ back, kaze it seem like dat des ez gooder 
time ez any fer ter nab Brer Rabbit; but ’fo’ he git in nabbin’ 
distance, Brer Rabbit he up’n say, sezee: — 

“‘Come on, Brer Fox! I done fine de place whar you kin lay 
in fresh meat ’nuff fer ter las’ you plum twel de middle er nex’ 
year,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts, en Brer Rabbit, he say, right over 
dar in de pastur’, en Brer Fox ax w’at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he 
say w’ich ’twuz a whole Hoss layin’ down on de groun’ whar dey 

8 


BRER FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE 


kin ketch ’im en tie ’im. Wid dat', Brer Fox, he say come on, en 
off dey put. 

“W’en dey got dar, sho’ nuff, dar lay de Hoss all stretch out 
in de sun, fas’ ’sleep, en den Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey had 
a ’spute ’bout how dey gwine ter fix de Hoss so he can’t git loose. 
One say one way en de yuther say n’er way, en dar dey had it, 
twel atter w’ile Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee: — 

“‘De onliest plan w’at I knows un, Brer Fox,’ sezee, ‘is fer you 
ter git down dar en lemme tie you ter de Hoss tail, en den, w’en 
he try ter git up, you kin hoi’ ’im down,’ sezee. ‘Ef I wuz big 
man like w’at you is,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘you mought tie 
me ter dat Hoss’ tail, en ef I ain’t hoi’ ’im down, den Joe’s dead 
en Sal’s a widder. I des knows you kin hoi’ ’im down,’ sez Brer 
Rabbit, sezee, ‘but yit, ef you ’feared, we des better drap dat 
idee en study out some yuther plan,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox sorter jubus ’bout dis, but he bleedzd ter play big- 
gity ’fo’ Brer Rabbit, en he tuck’n ’gree ter de progrance, en den 
Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n tie Brer Fox ter de Hoss’ tail, en atter he 
git ’im tie dar hard en fas’, he sorter step back, he did, en put he 
han’s ’kimbo, en grin, en den he say, sezee: — 

“‘Ef ever dey wuz a Hoss kotch, den we done kotch dis 
un. Look sorter lak we done put de bridle on de wrong een’,’ 
sezee, ‘but I lay Brer Fox is got de strenk fer ter hoi’ ’im,’ 
sezee. 

“Wid dat, Brer Rabbit cut ’im a long switch en trim it up, en 
w’en he get it fix, up he step en hit de Hoss a rap — pow! De Hoss 
’uz dat s’prise at dat kinder doin’s dat he make one jump, en 
lan’ on he foots. W’en he do dat, dar wuz Brer Fox danglin’ in 
de a’r, en Brer Rabbit, he dart out de way en holler: — 

“‘Hoi’ ’im down, Brer Fox! Hoi’ ’im down! I’ll stan’ out yer 
en see fa’r play. Hoi’ ’im down, Brer Fox! Hoi’ ’im down!’ 

“Co’se, w’en de Hoss feel Brer Fox hangin’ dar onter he tail, 
he thunk sump’n’ kuse wuz de marter, en dis make ’im jump en 

9 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


r’ar wusser en wusser, en he shake up Brer Fox same like he wuz 
a rag in de win’, en Brer Rabbit, he jump en holler: — 

“‘HoF ’im down, Brer Fox! HoF ’im down! You got ’im now, 
sho’! HoF yo’ grip, en hoF ’im down,’ sezee. 

“ De Hoss, he jump en he hump, en he rip en he r’ar, en he snort 
en he t’ar. But yit Brer Fox hang on, en still Brer Rabbit skip 
’roun’ en holler: — 

“‘HoF ’im down, Brer Fox! You got ’im whar he can’t needer 
back ner squall. HoF ’im down, Brer Fox!’ sezee. 

“Bimeby, w’en Brer Fox git chance, he holler back, he did: — 

“‘How in de name er goodness I gwine ter hoF de Hoss down 
’less I git my claw in de groun’P’ 

“Den Brer Rabbit, he stan’ back little furder en holler little 
louder:— , . 

“‘HoF ’im down, Brer Fox! HoF ’im down! You got ’im now, 
sho’! HoF ’im down!’ 

“Bimeby de Hoss ’gun ter kick wid he behime legs, en de fus’ 
news you know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in de stomach dat fa’rly 
make ’im squall, en den he kick ’im ag’in, en dis time he break 
Brer Fox loose, en sont ’im a-whirlin’; en Brer Rabbit, he keep 
on a-jumpin’ ’roun’ en hollerin’: — 

“‘HoF ’im down, Brer Fox!”’ 

“Did the fox get killed, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy. 

“He wa’n’t ’zackly kilt, honey,” replied the old man, “but he 
wuz de nex’ do’ ter’t. He ’uz all broke up, en w’iles he ’uz 
gittin’ well, hit sorter come ’cross he min’ dat Brer Rabbit done 
play n’er game on ’im.” 


10 


BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL 


III 

BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL 

“What did Brother Rabbit do after that?’’ the little boy asked 
presently. 

“Now, den, you don’t wanter push ole Brer Rabbit too close,” 
replied Uncle Remus significantly. “He mighty tender-footed 
creetur, en de mo’ w’at you push ’im, de furder he lef’ you.” 

There was prolonged silence in the old man’s cabin, until, 
seeing that the little boy was growing restless enough to cast 
several curious glances in the direction of the tool chest in the 
corner, Uncle Remus lifted one leg over the other, scratched his 
head reflectively, and began: — 

“One time, atter Brer Rabbit done bin trompin’ ’roun’ huntin’ 
up some sallid fer ter make out he dinner wid, he fine hisse’f in 
de neighborhoods er Mr. Man house, en he pass ’long twel he come 
ter de gyardin-gate, en nigh de gyardin-gate lie see Little Gal 
playin’ ’roun’ in de san\ W’en Brer Rabbit look ’twix’ de gyardin- 
palin’s en see de colluds, en de sparrer-grass, en de yuther gyardin 
truck growin’ dar, hit make he mouf water. Den he take en walk 
up ter de Little Gal, Brer Rabbit did, en pull he roach, 1 en bow, 
en scrape he foot, en talk mighty nice en slick. 

“‘Howdy, Little Gal,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; ‘how you come 
on?’ sezee. 

“Den de Little Gal, she ’spon’ howdy, she did, en she ax Brer 
Rabbit how he come on, en Brer Rabbit, he ’low he mighty po’Iy, 
en den he ax ef dis de Little Gal w’at ’er pa live up dar in de big 
w’ite house, w’ich de Little Gal, she up’n say ’twer\ Brer Rabbit, 
he say he mighty glad, kaze he des bin up dar fer to see ’er pa, en 
he say dat ’er pa, he sont ’im out dar fer ter tell de Little Gal dat 
she mus’ open de gyardin-gate so Brer Rabbit kin go in en git some 

1 Topknot, foretop. 

11 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


truck. Den de Little Gal, she jump ’roun’, she did, en she open 
de gate, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he hop in, he did, en got ’im a 
mess er greens, en hop out ag’in, en w’en he gwine off he make a 
bow, he did, en tell de Little Gal dat he much ’blije’, en den atter 
dat he put out fer home. 

“Nex’ day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, twel he see de 
Little Gal come out ter play, en den he put up de same tale, en 
walk off wid a n’er mess er truck, en hit keep on dis a-way, twel 
bimeby Mr. Man, he ’gun ter miss his greens, en he keep on 
a-missin’ un um, twel he got ter excusin’ eve’ybody on de place er 
’stroyin’ un um, en w’en dat come ter pass, de Little Gal, she 
up’n say: — 

“‘My goodness, pa!’ sez she, ‘you done tole Mr. Rabbit fer ter 
come and make me let ’im in de gyardin atter some greens, en 
ain’t he done come en ax me, en ain’t I done gone en let ’im in?’ 
sez she. 

“Mr. Man ain’t hatter study long ’fo’ he see how de lan’ lay, 
en den he laff, en tell de Little Gal dat he done gone en disremem- 
ber all ’bout Mr. Rabbit, en den he up’n say, sezee: — 

“‘Nex’ time Mr. Rabbit come, you tak’n tu’n ’im in, en den 
you run des ez fas’ ez you kin en come en tell me, kase I got some 
bizness wid dat young chap dat’s bleedze ter be ’ten’ ter,’ sezee. 

“Sho’ nuff, nex’ mawnin’ dar wuz de Little Gal playin’ ’roun’, 
en yer come Brer Rabbit atter he ’lowance er greens. He wuz 
ready wid de same tale, en den de Little Gal, she tu’n ’im in, she 
did, en den she run up ter de house en holler: — 

“‘O pa! pa! O pa! Yer Brer Rabbit in de gyardin now! Yer he 
is, pa!’ 

“Den Mr. Man, he rush out, en grab up a fishin’-line w’at bin 
hangin’ in de back po’ch, en mak fer de gyardin, en w’en he git 
dar, dar wuz Brer Rabbit tromplin’ ’roun’ on de strawbe’y-bed 
en mashin’ down de termartusses. W’en Brer Rabbit see Mr. 
Man, he squot behime a collud leaf, but’t wa’n’t no use. Mr. 

12 


BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL 

Man done seed him, en ’fo’ you kin count ’lev’m, he done got ole 
Brer Rabbit tie hard en fas’ wid de fishin’-line. Atter he got him 
tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, en say, sezee: — 

“‘You done bin fool me lots er time, but dis time you er mine. 
I’m gwine ter take you en gin you a larrupin’,’ sezee, ‘en den I’m 
gwine ter skin you en nail yo’ hide on de stable do’,’ sezee; ‘ en den 
ter make sho dat you git de right kinder larrupin’, I ’ll des step up 
ter de house,’ sezee, ‘ en fetch de little red cowhide, en den I ’ll take 
en gin you brinjer,’ sezee. 

“Den Mr. Man call to der Little Gal ter watch Brer Rabbit 
w’iles he gone. 

“Brer Rabbit ain’t sayin’ nothin’, but Mr. Man ain’t mo’n out 
de gate ’fo’ he ’gun ter sing; en in dem days Brer Rabbit wuz a 
singer, mon,” continued Uncle Remus, with unusual emphasis, 
“en w’en he chuned up fer ter sing he make dem yuther creeturs 
hoi’ der bref.” 

“What did he sing, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy. 

“Ef I ain’t fergit dat song off’n my min’,” said Uncle Remus, 
looking over his spectacles at the fire, with a curious air of attempt¬ 
ing to remember something, “hit run sorter dish yer way: — 

De jay-bird hunt de sparrer-nes* t 
De bee-martin sail all ’roun y ; 

De squer y l, he holler from de top er de tree y 
Mr. Mole , he stay in de groun 1 ; 

He hide en he stay twel de dark drap down — 

Mr. Mole , he hide in de groun Y 

“W’en de Little Gal year dat, she laugh, she did, and she up’n 
ax Brer Rabbit fer ter sing some mo’, but Brer Rabbit, he sorter 
cough, he did, en ’low dat he got a mighty bad ho’seness down 
inter he win’pipe some’rs. De Little Gal, she swade, 1 en swade, 
en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he up ’n ’low dat he kin dance mo’ samer 
dan w’at he kin sing. Den de Little Gal, she ax’ im won’t he dance, 
1 Persuaded. 

13 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


en Brer Rabbit, he ’spoil’ how in de name er goodness kin a man 
dance w’iles he all tie up dis a-way, en den de Little Gal, she say 
she kin ontie ’im, en Brer Rabbit, he say he ain’t keerin’ ef she do. 
Wid dat de Little Gal, she retch down en onloose de fish-line, en 
Brer Rabbit, he sorter stretch hisse’f en look ’roun’.” 

Here Uncle Remus paused and sighed, as though he had re¬ 
lieved his mind of a great burden. The little boy waited a few 
minutes for the old man to resume, and finally he asked: — 
“Did the Rabbit dance, Uncle Remus?” 

“Who? Him?” exclaimed the old man, with a queer affectation 
of elation. “Bless yo’ soul, honey! Brer Rabbit gedder up his 
foots und’ ’im, en he dance outer dat gyardin, en he dance home. 
He did dat! Sho’lyyou don’t ’speck’ dat a ole-timer w’at done had 
’spe’unce like Brer Rabbit gwine ter stay dar en let dat ar Mr. 
Man sackyfice ’im? Shoo1 Brer Rabbit dance, but he dance home. 
You year me!” 


IV 

BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT 

Uncle Remus chuckled a moment over the escape of Brother 
Rabbit, and then turned his gaze upward toward the cobwebbed 
gloom that seemed to lie just beyond the rafters. He sat thus silent 
and serious a little while, but finally squared himself around in 
his chair and looked the little boy full in the face. The old man’s 
countenance expressed a curious mixture of sorrow and bewilder¬ 
ment. Catching the child by the coat-sleeve, Uncle Remus pulled 
him gently to attract his attention. * 

“Hit look like ter me,” he said presently, in the tone of one ap¬ 
proaching an unpleasant subject, “dat no longer’n yistiddy I 
see one er dem ar Favers chillun clim’in’ dat ar big red-oak out 
yan’, en den it seem like dat a little chap ’bout yo’ size, he tuck’n 

14 


BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT 


start up ter see ef he can’t play smarty like de Favers’s yearlin’s. 
I dunner w’at in de name er goodness you wanter be a-copyin’ 
atter dem ar Faverses fer. Ef you er gwine ter copy atter yuther 
folks, copy atter dem w’at’s some ’count. Yo’ pa, he got de idee 
dat some folks is good ez yuther folks; but Miss Sally, she know 
better. She know dat dey ain’t no Favers ’pon de top side er de 
yeth w’at kin hoi’ der han’ wid de Abercrombies in p’int er breedin’ 
en raisin’. Dat w’at Miss Sally know. I bin keepin’ track er dem 
Faverses sence way back yan’ long ’fo’ Miss Sally wuz born’d. 
Ole Cajy Favers, he went ter de po’house, en ez ter dat Jim Favers, 
I boun’ you he know de inside er all de jails in dish yer State er 
Jawjy. Dey allers did hate niggers kase dey ain’t had none, en 
dey hates um down ter dis day. 

“Year ’fo’ las’,” Uncle Remus continued, “I year yo Unk’ 
Jeems Abercrombie tell dat same Jim Favers dat ef he lay de 
weight er he han’ on one er his niggers, he’d slap a load er buck 
shot in ’im; en, bless yo’ soul, honey, yo’ Unk’ Jeems wuz des de 
man ter do it. But dey er monst’us perlite unter me, dem Faverses 
is,” pursued the old man, allowing his indignation, which had 
risen to a white heat, to cool off, “en dey better be,” he added 
spitefully, “kase I knows der pedigree fum de fus’ ter de las’, en 
w’en I gits my Affikin up, dey ain’t nobody, ’less it’s Miss Sally 
’erse’f, w’at kin keep me down. 

“But dat ain’t needer yer ner dar,” said Uncle Remus, re¬ 
newing his attack upon the little boy. “W’at you wanter go 
copyin’ atter dem Favers chillun fer? Youer settin’ back dar, 
right dis minnit, bettin’ longer yo’se’f dat I ain’t gwine ter tell 
Miss Sally, en dar whar youer lettin’ yo’ foot slip, kaze I’m gwine 
ter let it pass dis time, but de ve’y nex’ time w’at I ketches you 
in hollerin’ distuns er dem Faverses, right den en dar I’m gwine 
ter take my foot in my han’ en go en tell Miss Sally, en ef she 
don’t natally skin you ’live, den she ain’t de same ’oman w’at she 
useter be. 


15 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“All dish yer copyin’ atter deze yer Faverses put me in min’ er 
de time w’en Brer Fox got ter copyin’ atter Brer Rabbit. I done 
tole you ’bout de time w’en Brer Rabbit git de game fum Brer 
Fox by makin’ like he dead?” 1 

The little boy remembered it very distinctly, and said as 
much. 

“Well, den, ole Brer Fox, w’en he see how slick de trick wuk 
wid Brer Rabbit, he say ter hisse’f dat he b’leeve he’ll up’n try de 
same kinder game on some yuther man, en he keep on watchin’ 
fer he chance, twel bimeby, one day, he year Mr. Man cornin’ 
down de big road in a one-hoss waggin, kyar’n some chickens, en 
some eggs, en some butter, ter town. Brer Fox year ’im cornin’, 
he did, en w’at do he do but go en lay down in de road front er 
de waggin. Mr. Man, he druv ’long, he did, cluckin’ ter de hoss 
en hummin’ ter hisse’f, en w’en dey git mos’ up ter Brer Fox, de 
hoss, he shy, he did, en Mr. Man, he tuck’n holler Wo! en de 
hoss, he tuck’n wo’d. Den Mr. Man, he look down, en he see 
Brer Fox lay in’ out dar on de groun’ des like he cole en stiff, en 
w’en Mr. Man see dis, he holler out: — 

“‘Heyo! Dar de chap w’at been nabbin’ up my chickens, en 
somebody done gone en shot off a gun at ’im, w’ich I wish she’d 
er bin two guns — dat I does!’ 

“Wid dat, Mr. Man he druv on en lef’ Brer Fox layin’ dar. 
Den Brer Fox, he git up en run ’roun’ thoo de woods en lay down 
front er Mr. Man ag’in, en Mr. Man comedrivin’ ’long, en he see 
Brer Fox, en he say, sezee; — 

“‘Heyo! Yer de ve’y chap what been ’stroyin’ my pigs. 
Somebody done gone en kilt ’im, en I wish dey’d er kilt ’im long 
time ago.’ 

“Den Mr. Man, he druv on, en de waggin-w’eel come mighty 
nigh mashin’ Brer Fox nose; yit, all de same, Brer Fox lipt up en 
run ’roun’ ’head er Mr. Man, en lay down in de road, en w’en Mr. 

1 Uncle Remus: Bis Songs and His Sayings , p. 70 (New York: D. Appleton & Co.). 

16 


BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT 


Man come ’long, dar he wuz all stretch out like he big ’nuff fer 
ter fill a two-bushel baskit, en he look like he dead ’nuff fer ter be 
skint. Mr. Man druv up, he did, en stop. He look down pun 
Brer Fox, en den he look all ’roun’ fer ter see w’at de ’casion er all 
deze yer dead Fox is. Mr. Man look all ’roun’, he did, but he 
ain’t see nothin’, en needer do he year nothin’. Den he set dar 
en study, en bimeby he ’low ter hisse’f, he did, dat he had better 
’zamin’ w’at kinder kuse zeeze 1 done bin got inter Brer Fox 
fambly, en wid dat he lit down outer de waggin, en feel er Brer Fox 
year; Brer Fox year feel right worn. Den he feel Brer Fox neck; 
Brer Fox neck right worn. Den he feel er Brer Fox in de short 
ribs; Brer Fox all soun’ in de short ribs. Den he feel er Brer Fox 
lim’s; Brer Fox all soun’ in de lim’s. Den he tu’n Brer Fox over, 
en, lo en beholes, Brer Fox right limber. W’en Mr. Man see dis, 
he say ter hisse’f, sezee: — 

“‘Heyo, yer! how come dis? Dish yer chicken-nabber look lak 
he dead, but dey ain’t no bones broked, en I ain’t see no blood, en 
needer does I feel no bruise; en mo’n dat he worn en he limber,’ 
sezee. ‘Sump’n’ wrong yer, sho’! Dish yer pig-grabber mought 
be dead, en den ag’in he moughtent,’ sezee; ‘but ter make sho’ dat 
he is, I’ll des gin’im a whack wid my w’ip-han’le,’ sezee; en wid 
dat, Mr. Man draw back en fotch Brer Fox a clip behime de years 
— poio! — en de lick come so hard en it come so quick dat Brer 
Fox thunk sho’ he’s a goner; but ’fo’ Mr. Man kin draw back fer 
ter fetch ’im a n’er wipe, Brer Fox, he scramble ter his feet, he 
did, en des make tracks ’way fum dar.” 

Uncle Remus paused and shook the cold ashes from his pipe, 
and then applied the moral: — 

“Dat w’at Brer Fox git fer playin’ Mr. Smarty en copyin’ atter 
yuther foks, en dat des de way de whole Smarty fambly gwine ter 
come out.” 

1 Disease. 


17 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


V 

BRER RABBIT’S ASTONISHING PRANK 

“I ’speck dat ’uz de reas’n w’at make ole Brer Rabbit git ’long 
so well, kaze he ain’t copy atter none er de yuther creeturs,” 
Uncle Remus continued, after a while. “W’en he make his dis¬ 
appearance ’fo’ um, hit ’uz allers in some bran new place. Dey 
ain’t know wharbouts fer ter watch out fer ’im. He wuz de fun¬ 
niest creetur er de whole gang. Some folks moughter call him 
lucky, en yit, w’en he git in bad luck, hit look lak he mos’ allers 
come out on top. Hit look mighty kuse now, but’t wa’n’t kuse 
in dem days, kaze hit ’uz done gun up dat, strike ’im w’en you 
might en whar you would, Brer Rabbit wuz de soopless creetur 
gwine. 

“One time, he sorter tuck a notion, ole Brer Rabbit did, dat 
he’d pay Brer B’ar a call, en no sooner do de notion strike ’im dan 
he pick hisse’f up en put out fer Brer B’ar house.” 

“Why, I thought they were mad with each other,” the little 
boy exclaimed. 

“Brer Rabbit make he call w’en Brer B’ar en his fambly wuz 
off fum home,” Uncle Remus explained, with a chuckle which was 
in the nature of a hearty tribute to the crafty judgment of 
Brother Rabbit. 

“He sot down by de road, en he see um go by, — ole Brer 
B’ar en ole Miss B’ar, en der two twin-chilluns, w’ich one un um 
wuz name Kubs en de t’er one wuz name Klibs.” f 

The little boy laughed, but the severe seriousness of Uncle 
Remus would have served for a study, as he continued: — 

“Ole Brer B’ar en Miss B’ar, dey went ’long ahead, en Kubs 
en Klibs, dey come shufflin’ en scramblin’ ’long behime. W’en 
Brer Rabbit see dis, he say ter hisse’f dat he ’speck he better go 
see how Brer B’ar gittin’ on; en off he put. En’t wa’n’t long n’er 

18 


BRER RABBIT’S ASTONISHING PRANK 


’fo’ he ’uz ransackin’ de premmuses same like he ’uz sho’ ’nuff 
patter-roller. W’iles he wuz gwine ’roun’ peepin’ in yer en pokin’ 
in dar, he got ter foolin’ ’mong de shelfs, en a bucket er honey 
w’at Brer B’ar got hid in de cubbud fall down en spill on top er 
Brer Rabbit, en little mo’n he’d er bin drown. Fum head ter heels 
dat creetur wuz kiver’d wid honey; }ie wa’n’t des only bedobble 
wid it, he wuz des kiver’d. He hatter set dar en let de natal sweet¬ 
ness drip outen he eyeballs ’fo’ he kin see he han’ befo’ ’im, en 
den, atter he look’ ’roun’ little, he say to hisse’f, sezee: — 

“‘Heyo, yer! W’at I gwine do now? Ef I go out in de sunshine, 
de bumly-bees en de flies dey ’ll sworn up’n take me, en if I stay 
yer, Brer B’ar’ll come back en ketch me, en I dunner w’at in de 
name er gracious I gwine do.’ 

“Ennyhow, bimeby a notion strike Brer Rabbit, en he tip ’long 
twel he git in de woods, en w’en he git out dar, w’at do he do but 
roll in de leafs en trash en try fer ter rub de honey off’n ’im dat 
a-way. He roll, he did, en de leafs dey stick; Brer Rabbit roll, en 
de leafs dey stick, en he keep on rollin’ en de leafs keep on stickin’, 
twel atter w’ile Brer Rabbit wuz de mos’ owdashus-lookin’ creetur 
w’at you ever sot eyes on. En ef Miss Meadows en de gals could 
er seed ’im den en dar, dey would n’t er bin no mo’ Brer Rabbit 
call at der house; ’deed, en dat dey would n’t. 

“Brer Rabbit, he jump ’roun’, he did, en try ter shake de leafs 
off’n ’im, but de leafs, dey ain’t gwine ter be shuck off. Brer 
Rabbit, he shake en he shiver, but de leafs dey stick; en de capers 
dat creetur cut up out dar in de woods by he own-alone se’f wuz 
scan’lous — dey wuz dat; dey wuz scan’lous. 

“Brer Rabbit see dis wa’nt gwine ter do, en he ’low ter hisse’f 
dat he better be gittin’ on todes home, en off he put. I ’speck 
you done year talk er deze yer booggers w’at gits atter bad 
chilluns,” continued Uncle Remus, in a tone so seriously con¬ 
fidential as to be altogether depressing; “well, den, des ’zactly 
dat a-way Brer Rabbit look, en ef you’d er seed ’im you’d er made 

19 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


sho’ he de gran’-daddy er all de booggers. Brer Rabbit pace 
’long, he did, en ev’y motion he make, de leafs dey’d go swishy- 
swushy, splushy-splishy , en, fum de fuss he make en de way he 
look, you’d er tuck ’im ter be de mos’ suvvigus varment w’at 
disappear fum de face er de yeth sence ole man Noah let down 
de draw-bars er de ark en tu’n de creeturs loose; en I boun’ ef 
you’d er struck up long wid ’im, you’d er been mighty good en 
glad ef you’d er got off wid dat. 

“De fus’ man w’at Brer Rabbit come up w T id wuz ole Sis Cow, 
en no sooner is she lay eyes on ’im dan she h’ist up ’er tail in de 
elements, en put out like a pack er dogs wuz atter ’er. Dis make 
Brer Rabbit laff, kaze he know dat w’en a ole settle’ ’oman like 
Sis Cow run ’stracted in de broad open day-time, dat dey mus’ 
be sump’n’ mighty kuse ’bout dem leafs en dat honey, en he keep 
on a-rackin’ down de road. De nex’ man w’at he meet wuz a black 
gal tollin’ a whole passel er plantation shotes, en w’en de gal see 
Brer Rabbit come prancin’ ’long, she fling down ’er basket er corn 
en des fa’rly fly, en de shotes, dey tuck thoo de woods, en sech 
n’er racket ez dey kick up wid der runnin’, en der snortin’, en der 
squealin’ ain’t never bin year in dat settlement needer befo’ ner 
since. Hit keep on dis a-way long ez Brer Rabbit meet anybody 
— dey des broke en run like de Ole Boy wuz atter um. 

“Co’se, dis make Brer Rabbit feel monst’us biggity, en he ’low 
ter hisse’f dat he ’speck he better drap ’roun’ en skummish in de 
neighborhoods er Brer Fox house. En w’iles he wuz stannin’ dar 
runnin’ dis ’roun’ in he min’, yer come old Brer B’ar en all er he 
fambly. Brer Rabbit, he git crossways de road, he did, en he 
sorter sidle todes um. Ole Brer B’ar, he stop en look, but Brer 
Rabbit, he keep on sidlin’ todes um. Ole Miss B’ar, she stan’ it 
long ez she kin, en den she fling down ’er parrysol en tuck a tree. 
Brer B’ar look lak he gwine ter stan’ his groun’, but Brer Rabbit 
he jump straight up in de a’r en gin hisse’f a shake, en, bless yo’ 
soul, honey! ole Brer B’ar make a break, en dey tells me he to’ 

20 
















































1 


























. 


' 





















BRER RABBIT’S ASTONISHING PRANK 


down a whole panel er fence gittin’ ’way fum dar. En ez ter Kubs 
en Klibs, dey tuck der hats in der han’s, en dey went skaddlin’ 
thoo de bushes des same ez a drove er hosses.” 

“And then what?” the little boy asked. 

“Brer Rabbit p’raded on down de road,” continued Uncle 
Remus, “en bimeby yer come Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, fixin’ up a 
plan fer ter nab Brer Rabbit, en dey wuz so intents on der confab 
dat dey got right on Brer Rabbit ’fo’ dey seed ’im; but, genter- 
mens! w’en dey is ketch a glimpse un ’im, dey gun ’im all de room 
he want. Brer Wolf, he try ter show off, he did, kase he wanter 
play big ’fo’ Brer Fox, en he stop en ax Brer Rabbit who is he. 
Brer Rabbit, he jump up en down in de middle er de road, en 
holler out: — * 

“‘I’m de Wull-er-de-Wust. 1 I’m de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer 
de man I’m atter!’ 

“Den Brer Rabbit jump up en down en make lak he gwine 
atter Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, en de way dem creeturs lit out fum 
dar wuz a caution. 

“Long time atter dat,” continued Uncle Remus, folding his 
hands placidly in his lap, with the air of one who has performed 
a pleasant duty, — “long time atter dat, Brer Rabbit come up 
wid Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, en he git behime a stump, Brer Rabbit 
did, en holler out: — 

“ ‘ I’m de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de mens I’m atter! ’ 

“Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, dey broke, but ’fo’ dey got outer sight 
en outer yar’n’, Brer Rabbit show hisse’f, he did, en laugh fit 
ter kill hisse’f. Atterwuds, Miss Meadows she year ’bout it, en 
de nex’ time Brer Fox call, de gals dey up en giggle, en ax ’im ef 
he ain’t feard de Wull-er-de-Wust mought drap in.” 

1 Or Wull-er-de-Wuts. Probably a fantastic corruption of “will-o'-the-wisp,” though 
this is not by any means certain. 


21 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


VI 

BRER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION 

The rain continued to fall the next day, but the little boy made 
arrangements to go with ’Tildy when she carried Uncle Remus 
his supper. This happened to be a waiter full of things left over 
from dinner. There was so much that the old man was moved to 
remark: — 

“I cl’ar ter gracious, hit look lak Miss Sally done got my name 
in de pot dis time, sho\ I des wish you look at dat pone er co’n- 
bread, honey, en dem ar greens, en see ef dey ain’t got Remus writ 
some’rs on um. Dat ar chick’n fixin’s, dey look lak deyer good, 
yet ’taint familious wid me lak dat ar bile ham. Dem ar sweet- 
taters, dey stan’s fa’r fer dividjun, but dem ar puzzuv, 1 1 lay dey 
fit yo’ palate mo’ samer dan dey does mine. Dish yer hunk er 
beef, we kin talk ’bout dat w’en de time come, en dem ar biscuits, 
I des nat’ally knows Miss Sally put um in dar fer some little chap 
w’ich his name I ain’t gwine ter call in comp’ny.” 

It was easy to perceive that the sight of the supper had put 
Uncle Remus in rare good-humor. He moved around briskly, 
taking the plates from the waiter and distributing them with ex¬ 
aggerated carefulness around upon his little pine table. Mean¬ 
while he kept up a running fire of conversation. 

“Folks w’at kin set down en have der vittles brung en put down 
right spang und’ der nose — dem kinder folks ain’t got no needs 
er no umbrell. Night ’fo’ las’, w’iles I wuz settin’ dar in de do’, I 
year dem Willis-whistlers, en den I des knowed we ’uz gwine ter 
git a season.” 2 

“The Willis-whistlers, Uncle Remus,” exclaimed the little boy. 
“What are they?” 

1 Preserves. 

2 In the South, a rain is called a “season,” not only by the negroes, but by many 
white farmers. 

22 


BRER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION 


“ Youer too hard fer me now, honey. Dat w’at I knows I don’t 
min’ tellin’, but w’en you axes me ’bout dat w’at I dunno, den 
youer too hard fer me, sho’. Deze yer Willis-whistlers, dey bangs 
my time, en I bin knockin’ ’roun’ in dish yer low-groun’ now 
gwine on eighty year. Some folks wanter make out deyer frogs, 
yit I wish dey p’int out unter me how frogs kin holler so dat de 
nigher you come t urn, de furder you is off; I be mighty glad ef 
some un ’ud come ’long en tell me dat. Many en many’s de time 
is I gone atter deze yer Willis-whistlers, en, no diffunce whar I 
goes, deyer allers off yander. You kin put de shovel in de fier 
en make de squinch-owl hush he fuss, en you kin go out en put 
yo’ han’ on de trees en make deze yere locus’-bugs quit der 
racket, but dem ar Willis-whistlers deyer allers ’way off yander.” 1 

Suddenly Uncle Remus paused over one of the dishes, and 
exclaimed: — 

“Gracious en de goodness! W’at kinder doin’s is dis Miss 
Sally done gone sont us?” 

“That,” said the little boy, after making an investigation, “is 
what mamma calls a floating island.” 

“Well, den,” Uncle Remus remarked, in a relieved tone, “dat’s 
diffunt. I wuz mos’ fear’d it ’uz some er dat ar sillerbug, w’ich a 
whole jugful ain’t ska’cely ’nuff fer ter make you seem like you 
dremp ’bout smellin’ dram. Ef I’m gwine ter be fed on foam,” * 
continued the old man, by way of explaining his position on the 
subject of syllabub, “let it be foam, en ef I’m gwine ter git dram, 
lemme git in reach un it w’ile she got some strenk lef’. Dat’s me 
up an down. W’en it come ter yo’ floatin’ ilun, des gimme a hunk 
er ginger-cake en a mug er ’simmon-beer, en dey won’t fine no 
nigger w’ats got no slicker feelin’s dan w’at I is. 

“Miss Sally mighty kuse w’ite ’oman,” Uncle Remus went on. 

1 It is a far-away sound that might be identified with one of the various undertones 
of silence, but it is palpable enough (if the word may be used) to have attracted the 
attention of the humble philosophers of the old plantation. 

23 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“She sendin’ all deze doin’s en fixin’s down yer, en I ’speck deyer 
monst’us nice, but no longer’n las’ Chuseday she had all de niggers 
on de place, big en little, gwine squallin’ ’roun’ fer Remus. Hit 
’uz Remus yer en Remus dar, en, lo en beholes, w’en I come ter 
fine out, Miss Sally want Remus fer ter whirl in en cook ’er one 
er deze yer ole-time ash-cakes. She bleedzd ter have it den en dar; 
en w’en I git it done, Miss Sally, she got a glass er buttermilk, en 
tuck’n sot right flat down on de flo’, des like she useter w’en she 
wuz little gal.” The old man paused, straightened up, looked at 
the child over his spectacles, and continued, with emphasis: “En 
I be bless ef she ain’t eat a hunk er dat ash-cake mighty nigh ez 
big ez yo’ head, en den she tuck’n make out’t wa’n’t cook 
right. 

“Now, den, honey, all deze done fix. You set over dar, and 
I ’ll set over yer, en ’twix’ en ’tween us we ’ll sample dish yer truck 
en see w’at is it Miss Sally done gone en sont us; en w’iles we er 
makin’ ’way wid it, I ’ll sorter rustle ’roun’ wid my ’membunce, 
en see ef I kin call ter min’ de tale ’bout how ole Brer Rabbit got 
’im a two-story house widout layin’ out much cash.” 

Uncle Remus stopped talking a little while and pretended to 
be trying to remember something, — an effort that was accom¬ 
panied by a curious humming sound in his throat. Finally, he 
brightened up and began: — 

“Hit tu’n out one time dat a whole lot er de creeturs tuck a 
notion dat dey’d go in coboots wid buil’n’ un um a house. Ole 
Brer B’ar, he was ’mongs’ um, en Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en 
Brer ’Coon, en Brer ’Possum. I won’t make sho’, but it seem 
like ter me dat plum down ter ole Brer Mink ’uz ’mongs’ um. 
Leas’ways, dey wuz a whole passel un um, en dey whirl in, dey did, 
en dey buil’ de house in less’n no time. Brer Rabbit, he make lak 
it make he head swim fer ter climb up on de scaffle, en likewise 
he say it make ’im ketch de palsy fer ter wuk in de sun, but he got 
’im a squar’, en he stuck a pencil behime he year, en he went 

24 


BRER RABBIT^ SECURES A MANSION 

*roun’ medjun 1 en markin’ — medjun en markin’ — en he wuz 
dat busy dat de yuther creeturs say ter deyse’f he doin’ monst’us 
sight er wuk, en folks gwine ’long de big road say Brer Rabbit 
doin’ mo’ hard wuk dan de whole kit en bilin’ un um. Yit all de 
time Brer Rabbit ain’t doin’ nothin’, en he des well bin layin’ 
off in de shade scratchin’ de fleas off’n ’im. De yuther creeturs, 
dey buil’ de house, en, gentermens! she ’uz a fine un, too, mon. 
She’d ’a’ bin a fine un deze days, let ’lone dem days. She had er 
upsta’rs en downsta’rs, en chimbleys all ’roun’, en she had rooms 
fer all de creeturs w’at went inter cahoots en hope make it. 

“Brer Rabbit, he pick out one er de upsta’rs rooms, en he 
tuck’n’ got ’im a gun, en one er deze yer brass cannons, en he 
tuck’n’ put um in dar w’en de yuther creeturs ain’t lookin’, en 
den he tuck’n’ got ’im a tub er nasty slop-water, w’ich likewise he 
put in dar w’en dey ain’t lookin’. So den, w’en dey git de house 
all fix, en w’iles dey wuz all a-settin’ in de parlor atter supper, 
Brer Rabbit, he sorter gap en stretch hisse’f, en make his ’skuses 
en say he b’leeve he’ll go ter he room. W’en he git dar, en w’iles 
all de yuther creeturs wuz a-laughin’ en a-chattin’ des ez sociable 
ez you please, Brer Rabbit, he stick he head out er de do’ er he 
room en sing out: — 

“‘W’en a big man like me wanter set down, wharbouts he 
gwine ter set?’ sezee. 

“Den de yuther creeturs dey laugh, en holler back: — 

“ ‘Ef big man like you can’t set in a cheer, he better set down 
on de flo’.’ 

“ ‘Watch out down dar, den,’ sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee. ‘Kaze 
I’m a gwine ter set down,’ sezee. 

“Wid dat, bang! went Brer Rabbit gun. Co’se, dis sorter 
’stonish de creeturs, en dey look ’roun’ at one er n’er much ez ter 
say, W’at in de name er gracious is dat? Dey lissen en lissen, but 
dey don’t year no mo’ fuss, en ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ dey got ter 

1 Measuring. 

25 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


chattin’ en jabberin’ some mo’. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit stick he 
head outer he room do’, en sing out: — 

‘“W’en a big man like me wanter sneeze, wharbouts he gwine 
ter sneeze at?’ 

“Den de yuther creeturs, dey tuck’n holler back: — 

“‘Ef big man like you ain’t a-gone gump, he kin sneeze any- 
whar he please.’ 

“‘Watch out down dar, den,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. ‘Kaze 
I’m gwine ter tu’n loose en sneeze right yer,’ sezee. 

“W T id dat, Brer Rabbit let off his cannon — bulderum-m-m! 
De winder-glass dey shuck en rattle, en de house shuck like she 
gwine ter come down, en ole Brer B’ar, he fell out de rockin’-cheer 
— kerblump! W’en de creeturs git sorter settle, Brer ’Possum en 
Brer Mink, dey up’n ’low dat Brer Rabbit got sech a monst’us 
bad cole, dey b’leeve dey’ll step out and git some fresh a’r, but 
dem yuther creeturs, dey say dey gwine ter stick it out; en atter 
w’ile, w’en dey git der h’ar smoove down, dey ’gun ter jower 
’mongs’ deyse’f. ’Bout dat time, w’en dey get in a good way, 
Brer Rabbit, he sing out: — 

“‘W’en a big man like me take a chaw terbacker, wharbouts he 
gwine ter spit?’ 

“Den de yuther creeturs, dey holler back, dey did, sorter like 
deyer mad: — 

“‘Big man er little man, spit whar you please.’ % 

“Den Brer Rabbit, he squall out: — 

“‘Dis de way a big man spit!’ en wid dat he tilt over de tub 
er slop-water, en w’en de yuther creeturs year it come a-sloshin’ 
down de sta’r-steps, gentermens! dey des histed deyse’f outer dar. 
Some un um went out de back do’, en some un um went out de 
front do’, en some un um fell out de winders; some went one way 
en some went n’er way; but dey all went sailin’ out.” 

“But what became of Brother Rabbit?” the little boy asked. 

“Brer Rabbit, he des tuck’n shot up de house en fassen de 

26 


MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN 


winders, en den he got ter bed, he did, en pull de coverled up 
’roun’ he years, en he sleep like a man w’at ain’t owe nobody 
nuthin’; en needer do he owe um, kaze ef dem yuther creeturs 
gwine git skeer’d en run off fum der own house, w’at bizness is 
dat er Brer Rabbit? Dat w’at I like ter know.” 


VII 

MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN 

Uncle Remus sighed heavily as he lifted the trivet on the head 
of his walking-cane, and hung it carefully by the side of the 
griddle in the cavernous fireplace. 

“Folks kin come ’long wid der watchermaycollums,” he said 
presently, turning to the little boy, who was supplementing his 
supper by biting off a chew of shoemaker’s-wax, “en likewise dey 
kin fetch ’roun’ der watziznames. Dey kin walk biggity, en dey 
kin talk biggity, en mo’n dat, dey kin feel biggity, but yit all de 
same deyer gwine ter git kotch up wid. Dey go ’long en dey go 
’long, en den bimeby yer come trouble en snatch um slonchways, 
en de mo’ bigger w’at dey is, de wusser does dey git snatched.” 

The little boy did n’t understand this harangue at all, but 
he appreciated it because he recognized it as the prelude to a 
story. 

“Dar wuz Mr. Lion,” Uncle Remus went on; “he tuck’n sot 
hisse’f up fer ter be de boss er all de yuther creeturs, en he feel 
so biggity dat he go ro’in’ en rampin’ ’roun’ de neighborhoods 
wuss’n dat ar speckle bull w’at you see down at yo’ Unk’ Jeems 
Abercrombie place las’ year. He went ro’in’ ’roun’, he did, en 
eve’ywhar he go he year talk er Mr. Man. Right in de middle er 
he braggin’, some un ’ud up’n tell ’im ’bout w’at Mr. Man done 
done. Mr. Lion, he say he done dis, en den he year ’bout how Mr. 
Man done dat. Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby Mr. Lion 

27 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


shake he mane, he did, en he up’n say dat he gwine ter s’arch 
’roun’ en ’roun’, en high en low, fer ter see ef he can’t fine Mr. 
Man, en he ’low, Mr. Lion did, dat w’en he do fine ’im, he gwine 
ter tu’n in en gin Mr. Man sech n’er larrupin’ w’at nobody ain’t 
never had yit. Dem yuther creeturs, dey tuck’n tell Mr. Lion dat 
he better let Mr. Man ’lone, but Mr. Lion say he gwine ter hunt 
’im down spite er all dey kin do. 

“Sho’ nuff, atter he done tuck some res’, Mr. Lion, he put out 
down de big road. Sun, she rise up en shine hot, but Mr. Lion, he 
keep on; win’, hit come up en blow, en fill de elements full er dust; 
rain, hit drif’ up en drizzle down; but Mr. Lion, he keep on. 
Bimeby, w’iles he gwine on dis a-way, wid he tongue hangin’ out, 
he come up w T id Mr. Steer, grazin’ ’long on de side er de road. 
Mr. Lion, he up’n ax ’im howdy, he did, monst’us perlite, en Mr. 
Steer likewise he bow en scrape en show his manners. Den Mr. 
Lion, he do lak he wanter have some confab wid ’im, en he up’n 
say, sezee: — 

“‘Is dey anybody ’roun’ in deze parts name Mr. Man?’ sezee. 

“‘Tooby sho’ dey is,’ sez Mr. Steer, sezee; ‘anybody kin tell 
you dat. I knows ’im mighty well,’ sezee. 

“‘Well, den, he de ve’y chap I’m atter,’ sezee. 

“‘W’at mought be yo’ bizness wid Mr. Man?’ sez Mr. Steer, 
sezee. 

“‘I done come dis long ways fer ter gin ’im a larrupin’,’ sez 
Mr. Lion, sezee. ‘I’m gwine ter show ’im who de boss er deze 
neighborhoods,’ sezee, en wid dat Mr. Lion, he shake he mane, 
en switch he tail, en strut up en down wuss’n one er deze yer 
town niggers. 

“‘Well, den, ef dat w’at you come atter,’ sez Mr. Steer, sezee, 
‘you des better slew yo’se’f ’roun’ en p’int yo’ nose todes home, 
kaze you fixin’ fer ter git in sho’ ’nuff trouble,’ sezee. 

“‘I’m gwine ter larrup dat same Mr. Man,’ sez Mr. Lion, 
sezee; ‘I done come fer dat, en dat w’at I’m gwine ter do,’ sezee. 

28 


MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN 


“Mr, Steer, he draw long breff, he did, en chaw he cud slow, en 
atter w’ile he say, sezee: — 

“‘You see me stannin’ yer front er yo’ eyes, en you see how 
big I is, en w’at long, sharp, hawns I got. Well, big ez my heft 
is, en sharp dough my hawns be, yit Mr. Man, he come out yer 
en he ketch me, en he put me und’ a yoke, en he hitch me up in a 
kyart, en he make me haul he wood, en he drive me anywhar he 
min’ ter. He do dat. Better let Mr. Man ’lone/ sezee. ‘If you 
fool ’long wid ’im, watch out dat he don’t hitch you up en have 
you prancin’ ’roun’ yer pullin’ he kyart,’ sezee. 

“Mr. Lion, he fotch a roar, en put out down de road, en’t 
wa’n’t so mighty long ’fo’ he come up wid Mr. Hoss, w’ich he wuz 
a-nibblin’ en a-croppin’ de grass. Mr. Lion make hisse’f know’d, 
en den he tuck’n ax Mr. Hoss do he know Mr. Man. 

“‘Mighty well,’ sez Mr. Hoss, sezee, ‘en mo’n dat, I bin a- 
knowin’ ’im a long time. W’at you want wid Mr. Man?’ sezee. 

“‘I’m a-huntin’ ’im up fer ter larrup ’im,’ sez Mr. Lion, 
sezee. ‘Dey tells me he mighty stuck up,’ sezee, ‘en I gwine take 
’im down a peg,’ sezee. 

“Mr. Hoss look at Mr. Lion like he sorry, en bimeby he up’n 
say: — 

“‘I ’speck you better let Mr. Man ’lone,’ sezee. ‘You see how 
big I is, en how much strenk w’at I got, en how tough my foots is,’ 
sezee; ‘well dish yer Mr. Man, he kin take’n take me en hitch me 
up in he buggy, en make me haul ’im all ’roun’, en den he kin 
take’n fassen me ter de plow en make me break up all his new 
groun’,’ sezee. ‘You better go ’long back home. Fus’ news you 
know, Mr. Man’ll have you breakin’ up his new groun’,’ sezee. 

“Spite er all dis, Mr. Lion, he shake he mane en say he gwine 
ter larrup Mr. Man anyhow. He went on down de big road, he 
did, en bimeby he come up wid Mr. Jack Sparrer, settin’ up in de 
top er de tree. Mr. Jack Sparrer, he whirl ’roun’ en chirp, en 
flutter ’bout up dar, en ’pariently make a great ’miration. 

29 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“‘Heyo yer!’ sezee; ‘who’d er ’speckted fer ter see Mr. Lion 
’way down yer in dis neighborhoods?’ sezee. ‘Whar you gwine, 
Mr. Lion?’ sezee. 

“Den Mr. Lion ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer know Mr. Man, en Mr. 
Jack Sparrer say he know Mr. Man mighty well. Den Mr. Lion, 
he ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer know whar he stay, w’ich Mr. Jack 
Sparrer say dat he do. Mr. Lion ax wharbouts is Mr. Man, en 
Mr. Jack Sparrer say he right ’cross dar in de new groun’, en he 
up’n ax Mr. Lion w’at he want wid ’im, w’ich Mr. Lion ’spon’ 
dat he gwine larrup Mr. Man, en wid dat, Mr. Jack Sparrer, he 
up’n say, sezee: — % 

“‘You better let Mr. Man ’lone. You see how little I is, en 
likewise how high I kin fly; yit, ’spite er dat, Mr. Man, he kin 
fetch me down w’en he git good en ready,’ sezee. ‘You better 
tuck yo’ tail en put out home,’ sez Mr. Jack Sparrer, sezee, ‘kaze 
bimeby Mr. Man’ll fetch you down,’ sezee. 

“But Mr. Lion des vow he gwine atter Mr. Man, en go he 
would, en go he did. He ain’t never see Mr. Man, Mr. Lion ain’t, 
en he dunner w’at he look lak, but he go on todes de new groun’. 
Sho’ ’nuff, dar wuz Mr. Man, out dar maulin’ rails fer ter make 
’im a fence. He ’uz rippin’ up de butt cut, Mr. Man wuz, en 
he druv in his wedge en den he stuck in de glut. He ’uz 
splittin’ ’way, w’en bimeby he year rustlin’ out dar in de bushes, 
en he look up, en dar wuz Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion ax ’im do he know 
Mr. Man, en Mr. Man ’low dat he know ’im mo’ samer dan ef 
he wer’ his twin brer. Den Mr. Lion ’low dat he wanter see’ im, 
en den Mr. Man say, sezee, dat ef Mr. Lion will come stick his 
paw in de split fer ter hoi’ de log open twel he git back, he go 
fetch Mr. Man. Mr. Lion he march up en slap his paw in de 
place, en den Mr. Man, he tuck’n’ knock de glut out, en de 
split close up, en dar Mr. Lion wuz. Mr. Man, he stan’ off en 
say, sezee:— * 

“‘Ef you’d ’a’ bin a steer er hoss, you mought er run’d, en 

30 


THE STORY OF THE PIGS 


ef you’d ’a’ bin a sparrer, you mought er flew’d, but yer you is, 
en you kotch yo’se’f,’ sezee. 

“Wid dat, Mr. Man sa’nter out in de bushes en cut ’im a 
hick’ry, en he let in on Mr. Lion, en he frail en frail ’im twel 
frailin’ un ’im wuz a sin. En down ter dis day,” continued Uncle 
Remus, in a tone calculated to destroy all doubt, “you can’t git no 
Lion ter come up whar dey’s a Man a-maulin’ rails en put he paw 
in de split. Dat you can’t!” 


VIII 

THE STORY OF THE PIGS 

Uncle Remus relapsed into silence again, and the little boy, 
with nothing better to do, turned his attention to the bench upon 
which the old man kept his shoemaker’s tools. Prosecuting his 
investigations in this direction, the youngster finally suggested 
that the supply of bristles was about exhausted. 

“I dunner w’at Miss Sally wan ter be sendin’ un you down yer 
fer, ef you gwine ter be stirr’n’ en bodderin’ ’longer dem ar 
doin’s,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, indignantly. “Now don’t you 
scatter dem hog-bristle! De time wuz w’en folks had a mighty 
slim chance fer ter git bristle, en dey ain’t no tellin’ w’en dat time 
gwine come ag’in. Let ’lone dat, de time wuz w’en de breed er 
hogs wuz done run down ter one po’ little pig, en it look lak 
mighty sorry chance fer dem w’at was bleedzd ter have bristle.” 

By this time Uncle Remus’s indignation had vanished, dis¬ 
appearing as suddenly and unexpectedly as it came. The little 
boy was curious to know when and where and how the bristle 
famine occurred. 

“I done tole you ’bout dat too long ’go ter talk ’bout,” the 
old man declared; but the little boy insisted that he had never 
heard about it before, and he was so persistent that at last 

31 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

Uncle Remus, in self-defence, consented to tell the story of the 
Pigs. 

“One time, ’way back yander, de ole Sow en er chilluns wuz 
all livin’ ’longer’ de yuther creeturs. Hit seem lak ter me dat de 
ole Sow wuz a widder ’oman, en ef I don’t run inter no mistakes, 
hit look like ter me dat she got five chilluns. Lemme see,” con¬ 
tinued Uncle Remus, with the air of one determined to justify his 
memory by a reference to the record, and enumerating with great 
deliberation, — “dar wuz Big Pig, en dar wuz Little Pig, en dar 
wuz Speckle Pig, en dar wuz Blunt, en las’ en lonesomes’ dar 
wuz Runt. 

“One day, deze yer Pig ma she know she gwine kick de bucket, 
and she tuck’n call up all ’er chilluns en tell um dat de time 
done come w’en dey got ter look out fer deyse’f, en den she up’n 
tell um good ez she kin, dough ’er breff mighty scant, ’bout w’at 
a bad man is ole Brer Wolf. She say, sez she, dat if dey kin make 
der ’scape from ole Brer Wolf, dey’ll be doin’ monst’us well. Big 
Pig ’low she ain’t skeer’d, Speckle Pig ’low she ain’t skeer’d, Blunt, 
he say he mos’ big a man ez Brer Wolf hisse’f, en Runt, she des 
tuck ’n root ’roun’ in de straw en grunt. But ole Widder Sow, she 
lay dar, she did, en keep on tellin’ um dat dey better keep der eye 
on Brer Wolf, kaz he mighty mean en ’seetful man. 

“Not long atter dat, sho’ ’nuff ole Miss Sow lay down en die, en 
all dem ar chilluns er hern wuz flung back on deyse’f, en dey whirl 
in, dey did, en dey buil’ um all a house ter live in. Big Pig, she 
tuck’n buil’ ’er a house outer bresh; Little Pig, she tuck’n buil’ a 
stick house; Speckle Pig, she tuck’n buil’ a mud house; Blunt, he 
tuck’n buil’ a plank house; en Runt, she don’t make no great 
ter-do, en no great brags, but she went ter wuk, she did, en buil’ 
a rock house. 

“Bimeby, w’en dey done got all fix, en marters wuz sorter 
settle, soon one mawnin’ yer come ole Brer Wolf, a-lickin’ un his 
chops en a-shakin’ un his tail. Fus’ house he come ter wuz Big 

S2 


THE STORY OF THE PIGS 


Pig house. Brer Wolf walk ter de do’, he did, en he knock sorter 
saf ’ — blim! bliml blim! Nobody ain’t answer. Den he knock loud 
— blam! blam! blaml Dis wake up Big Pig, en she come ter de do’, 
en she ax who dat. Brer Wolf ’low it’s a fr’en’, en den he sing out: 

“‘Ef you'll open de do' en let me in , 

I'll worn my han's en go home ag'in / , 

“Still Big Pig ax who dat, en den Brer Wolf, he up’n say, 
sezee:— 

“‘How yo’ ma?’ sezee. 

“‘My ma done dead,’ sez Big Pig, sezee, ‘en ’fo’ she die she tell 
me fer ter keep my eye on Brer Wolf. I sees you thoo de crack er 
de do’, en you look mighty like Brer Wolf,’ sezee. 

“Den ole Brer Wolf, he draw a long breff lak he feel mighty 
bad, en he up’n say, sezee: — 

“‘I dunner w’at change yo’ ma so bad, less’n she ’uz out’n er 
head. I year tell dat ole Miss Sow wuz sick, en I say ter myse’f 
dat I’d kinder drap ’roun’ en see how de ole lady is, en fetch ’er 
dish yer bag er roas’n’-years. Mighty well dose I know dat ef yo’ 
ma wuz yer right now, en in ’er min’, she’d take de roas’n’-years 
en be glad fer ter git um, en mo’n dat, she’d take’n ax me in by de 
fire fer ter worn my han’s,’ sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee. 

“De talk ’bout de roas’n’-years make Big Pig mouf water, en 
bimeby, atter some mo’ palaver, she open de do’ en let Brer Wolf 
in, en bless yo’ soul, honey! dat uz de las’ er Big Pig. She ain’t 
had time fer ter squeal en needer fer ter grunt ’fo’ Brer Wolf gobble 
’er up. 

“Next day, ole Brer Wolf put up de same game on Little Pig; 
he go en he sing he song, en Little Pig, she tuck’n let ’im in, en 
den Brer Wolf he tuck’n ’turn de compelerments 1 en let Little 
Pig in.” 

Here Uncle Remus laughed long and loud at his conceit, and he 
took occasion to repeat it several times. 

1 Compliments. 

33 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Little Pig, she let Brer Wolf in, en Brer Wolf, he let Little Pig 
in, en w’at mo’ kin you ax dan dat? Nex’ time Brer Wolf pay a 
call, he drop in on Speckle Pig, en rap at de do’ en sing his song: — 

“*Ef you'U, open de do' en let me in , 
rU worn my han’s en go home ag’in* 

“But Speckle Pig, she kinder ’spicion sump’n’, en she ’fuse ter 
open de do’. Yit Brer Wolf mighty ’seetful man, en he talk 
mighty saf’ en he talk mighty sweet. Bimeby, he git he nose in de 
crack er de do’ en he say ter Speckle Pig, sezee, fer ter des let 
’im git one paw in, en den he won’t go no furder. He git de paw 
in, en den he beg fer ter git de yuther paw in, en den w’en he git 
dat in he beg fer ter git he head in, en den w’en he git he head in, 
en he paws in, co’se all he got ter do is ter shove de do’ open en 
walk right in; en w’en marters stan’ dat way, ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ 
he done make fresh meat er Speckle Pig. 

“Nex’ day, he make way wid Blunt, en de day atter, he ’low 
dat he make a pass at Runt. Now, den, right dar whar ole Brer 
Wolf slip up at. He lak some folks w’at I knows. He’d ’a’ bin 
mighty smart, ef he had n’t er bin too smart. Runt wuz de littles’ 
one er de whole gang, yit all de same news done got out dat she 
’uz pestered wid sense like grown folks. 

“Brer Wolf, he crope up ter Runt house, en he got un’need de 
winder, he did, en he sing out: — 

you'U open de do ’ en let me in, 

I*U worn my ban's en go home ag'in* 

“But all de same, Brer Wolf can’t coax Runt fer ter open de 
do’, en needer kin he break in, kaze de house done made outer 
rock. Bimeby Brer Wolf make out he done gone off, en den atter 
while he come back en knock at de do’ — blam , blam , blaml 

“Runt she sot by de fier, she did, en sorter scratch ’er year, en 
holler out: — 


34 


MR. RAM AND HIS FIDDLE 

“‘Who dat?’ sez she. 

“‘Hit’s Speckle Pig,’ sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee, ’twix’ a snort en 
a grunt. ‘ I fotch yer some peas fer yo’ dinner! ’ 

“Runt, she tuck’n laugh, she did, en holler back: — 

“‘Sis Speckle Pig ain’t never talk thoo dat many toofies.’ 

“Brer Wolf go off ’g’in, en bimeby he come back en knock. 
Runt she sot en rock, en holler out: — 

“‘Who dat?’ 

“‘Big Pig,’ sez Brer Wolf. ‘I fotch some sweet-co’n fer yo’ 
supper.’ 

“Runt, she look thoo de crack un’need de do’, en laugh en 
say, sez she: — 

“‘Sis Big Pig ain’t had no ha’r on ’er huff.’ 

“Den ole Brer Wolf, he git mad, he did, en say he gwine come 
down de chimbley, en Runt, she say, sez she, dat de onliest way 
w’at he kin git in; en den, w’en she year Brer Wolf clam’in’ up on 
de outside er de chimbley, she tuck’n pile up a whole lot er broom 
sage front er de h’a’th, en w’en she year ’im clam’in’ down on de 
inside, she tuck de tongs en shove de straw on de fier, en de smoke 
make Brer Wolf head swim, en he drap down, en ’fo’ he know it 
he ’uz done bu’nt ter a cracklin’; en dat wuz de las’ er ole Brer 
Wolf. Leas’ways,” added Uncle Remus, putting in a cautious 
proviso to fall back upon in case of an emergency, “leas’ways, 
hit ’uz de las’ er dat Brer Wolf.” 


IX 

MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE 

“I ’speck you done year tell er ole man Benjermun Ram,” said 
Uncle Remus, with a great affectation of indifference, after a 
pause. 

“Old man who?” asked the little boy. 

3 5 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Ole man Benjermun Ram. I ’speck you done year tell er him 
too long ’go ter talk ’bout.” 

“Why, no, I have n’t, Uncle Remus!” exclaimed the little boy, 
protesting and laughing. “He must have been a mighty funny 
old man.” 

“Dat’s ez may be,” responded Uncle Remus, sententiously. 
“Fun deze days wouldn’t er counted fer fun in dem days; en 
many’s de time w’at I see folks laughin’,” continued the old man, 
with such withering sarcasm that the little boy immediately be¬ 
came serious, — “many’s de time w’at I sees um laughin’ en 
laughin’, w’en I lay dey ain’t kin tell w’at deyer laughin’ at 
deyse’f. En ’taint der laughin’ w’at pesters me, nudder,” — re¬ 
lenting a little, — “hit’s dish yer ev’lastin’ snickle en giggle,giggle 
en snickle.” 

Having thus mapped out, in a dim and uncertain way, what 
older people than the little boy might have been excused for ac¬ 
cepting as a sort of moral basis, Uncle Remus proceeded: — 

“Dish yer Mr. Benjermun Ram, w’ich he done come up inter 
my min’, wuz one er dezeyer ole-timers. Dey tells me dat he ’uz 
a fiddler fum away back yander — one er dem ar kinder fiddlers 
w’at can’t git de chune down fine ’less dey pats der foot. He stay 
all by he own-alone se’f way out in de middle un a big new-groun’, 
en he sech a handy man fer ter have at a frolic dat de yuther 
creeturs like ’im mighty well, en w’en dey tuck a notion fer ter 
shake der foot, w’ich de notion tuck’n struck um eve’y once in a 
w’ile, nuthin’ ’ud do but dey mus’ sen’ fer ole man Benjermun 
Ram en he fiddle; en dey do say,” continued Uncle Remus, 
closing his eyes in a sort of ecstasy, “dat w’en he squar’ hisse’f 
back in a cheer, en git in a weavin’ way, he kin des snatch dem 
ole-time chunes fum who lay de rail . 1 En den, w’en de frolic wuz 
done, dey’d all fling in, dem yuther creeturs would, en fill up a 
bag er peas fer ole Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter kyar home wid ’im. 

1 That is, from the foundation, or beginning. 

36 


MR. RAM AND HIS FIDDLE 


“One time, des ’bout Christmas, Miss Meadows en Miss 
Motts en de gals, dey up’n say dat dey’d sorter gin a blowout, en 
dey got wud ter ole man Benjermun Ram w’ich dey ’speckted ’im 
fer ter be on han’. W’en de time done come fer Mr. Benjermun 
Ram fer ter start, de win’ blow cole en de cloud ’gun ter spread 
out ’cross de elements — but no marter fer dat; ole man Ben¬ 
jermun Ram tuck down he walkin’-cane, he did, en tie up he 
fiddle in a bag, en sot out fer Miss Meadows. He thunk he know 
de way, but hit keep on gittin’ col’er en col’er, en mo’ cloudy, 
twel bimeby, fus’ news you know, ole Mr. Benjermun Ram done 
lose de way. Ef he’d er kep’ on down de big road fum de start, it 
moughter bin diffunt, but he tuck a nigh-cut, en he ain’t git fur 
’fo’ he done los’ sho’ ’nuff. He go dis a-way, en he go dat a-way, 
en he go de yuther way, yit all de same he wuz done los’. Some 
folks would er sot right flat down whar dey wuz en study out der 
way, but ole man Benjermun Ram ain’t got wrinkle on he hawn 
fer nothin’, kaze he done got de name er ole Billy Hardhead long 
’fo’ dat. Den ag’in, some folks would er stop right still in der 
tracks en holler en bawl fer ter see ef dey can’t roust up some er 
de neighbors, but ole Mr. Benjermun Ram, he des stick he jowl in 
de win’, he did, en he march right on des ’zackly like he know he 
ain’t gwine de wrong way. He keep on, but’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he 
’gun ter feel right lonesome, mo’ speshually w’en hit come up in 
he min’ how Miss Meadows en de gals en all de comp’ny be bleedz 
ter do de bes’ dey kin bidout any fiddlin’; en hit kinder make he 
marrer git cole w’en he study ’bout how he gotter sleep out dar in 
de woods by hisse’f. 

“Yit, all de same, he keep on twel de dark ’gun ter drap down, 
en den he keep on still, en bimeby he come ter a little rise whar dey 
wuz a clay-gall. W’en he git dar he stop en look ’roun’, he did, 
en ’way off down in de holler, dar he see a light shinin’, en w’en 
he see dis, ole man Benjermun Ram tuck he foot in he han’, en 
make he way todes it des lak it de ve’y place w’at he bin huntin’. 

37 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


’T wa’n’t long ’fo’ he come ter de house whar de light is, en, bless 
you soul, he don’t make no bones er knockin’. Den somebody 
holler out: — 

“‘Who dat?’ 

“‘I’m Mr. Benjermun Ram, en I done lose de way, en I come 
fer ter ax you ef you can’t take me in fer de night,’ sezee. 

“In common,” continued Uncle Remus, “ole Mr. Benjermun 
Ram wuz a mighty rough-en-spoken somebody, but you better 
b’leeve he talk monst’us perlite dis time. 

“Den some un on t’er side er de do’ ax Mr. Benjermun Ram fer 
ter walk right in, en wid dat he open de do’ en walk in, en make 
a bow like fiddlin’ folks does w’en dey goes in comp’ny; but he 
ain’t no sooner make he bow en look ’roun’ twel he ’gun ter shake 
en shiver lak he done bin strucken wid de swamp-ager, kaze, set- 
tin’ right dar ’fo’ de fier wuz ole Brer Wolf, wid his toofies showin’ 
up all w’ite en shiny like dey wuz bran new. Ef ole Mr. Benjer¬ 
mun Ram ain’t bin so ole en stiff I boun’ you he’d er broke en 
run, but ’mos’ ’fo’ he had time fer ter study ’bout gittin’ ’way, ole 
Brer Wolf done bin jump up en shet de do’ en fassen ’er wid a great 
big chain. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram he know he in fer’t, en he 
tuck’n put on a bol’ face ez he kin, but he des nat’ally hone 1 fer 
ter be los’ in de woods some mo’. Den he make n’er low bow, en 
he hope Brer Wolf and all his folks is well, en den he say, sezee, 
dat he des drap in fer ter worn hisse’f, en ’quire uv de way ter Miss 
Meadows’, en ef Brer Wolf be so good ez ter set ’im in de road 
ag’in, he be off putty soon en be much ’blige in de bargains. 

“‘Tooby sho’, Mr. Ram,’ sez Brer Wolf, sezee, w’iles he lick he 
chops en grin; ‘des put yo’ walkin’-cane in de cornder over dar, 
en set yo’ bag down on de flo’, en make yo’se’f at home,’ sezee. 
‘We ain’t got much,’ sezee, ‘but w’at we is got is yone w’iles you 
stays, en I boun’ we’ll take good keer un you,’ sezee; en wid dat 

1 To pine or long for anything. This is a good old English word, which has been 
retained in the plantation vocabulary. 


38 


MR. RAM AND HIS FIDDLE 


Brer Wolf laugh en show his toofies so bad dat ole man Benjer- 
mun Ram come mighty nigh havin’ ’n’er ager. 

“Den Brer Wolf tuck’n flung ’n’er lighter’d-knot on de fier, en 
den he slip inter de back room, en present’y, w’iles ole Mr. Ben- 
jermun Ram wuz settin’ dar shakin’ in he shoes, he year Brer 
Wolf whispun’ ter he ole ’oman: — 

“‘Ole ’oman! ole ’oman! Fling ’way yo’ smoke meat —fresh 
meat fer supper! Fling ’way yo’ smoke meat — fresh meat fer 
supper! ’ 

“Den ole Miss Wolf, she talk out loud, so Mr. Benjermun Ram 
kin year: — 

“ ‘ Tooby sho’ I ’ll fix ’im some supper. We er ’way off yer in de 
woods, so fur fum comp’ny dat goodness knows I’m mighty glad 
ter see Mr. Benjermun Ram.’ 

“Den Mr. Benjermun Ram year ole Miss Wolf whettin’ ’er 
knife on a rock — shirrah! shirrali! shirrah! — en ev’y time he 
year de knife say shirrah! he know he dat much nigher de dinner- 
pot. He know he can’t git ’way, en w’iles he settin’ dar studyin’, 
hit come ’cross he min’ dat he des mought ez well play one mo’ 
chune on he fiddle ’fo’ de wuss come ter de wuss. Wid dat he 
ontie de bag en take out de fiddle, en ’gun ter chune ’er up — 
plink , plank , plunk , plink! plunk , plank , plink , plunk!” 
r Uncle Remus’s imitation of the tuning of a fiddle was marvel¬ 
lous enough to produce a startling effect upon a much less en¬ 
thusiastic listener than the little boy. It was given in perfect 
good faith, but the serious expression on the old man’s face was 
so irresistibly comic that the child laughed until the tears ran 
down his face. Uncle Remus very properly accepted this as a 
tribute to his wonderful resources as a story-teller, and continued, 
in great good-humor: — 

“W’en ole Miss Wolf year dat kinder fuss, co’se she dunner 
w’at is it, en she drap ’er knife en lissen. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram 
ain’t know dis, en he keep on chunin’ up — plank, plink, plunk , 

39 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


plank! Den ole Miss Wolf, she tuck’n hunch Brer Wolf wid ’er 
elbow, en she say, sez she: — 

“‘Hey, ole man! w’at dat?” 

“Den bofe un um cock up der years en lissen, en des ’bout dat 
time ole Mr. Benjermun Ram he sling de butt er de fiddle up 
und’ he chin, en struck up one er dem ole-time chunes.” 

“Well, what tune was it, Uncle Remus?” the little boy asked, 
with some display of impatience. 

“Ef I ain’t done gone en fergit dat chune off’n my min’,” con¬ 
tinued Uncle Remus; “hit sorter went like dat ar song ’bout 
‘Sheep shell co’n wid de rattle er his ho’n,’ en yit hit mout er been 
dat ar yuther one ’bout ‘Roll de key, ladies, roll dem keys.’ Brer 
Wolf en ole Miss Wolf, dey lissen en lissen, en de mo’ w’at dey 
lissen de skeerder dey git, twel bimeby dey tuck ter der heels en 
make a break fer de swamp at de back er de house des lak de 
patter-rollers wuz atter um. 

“ W’en ole man Benjermun Ram sorter let up wid he fiddlin’, 
he don’t see no Brer Wolf, en he don’t year no ole Miss Wolf. Den 
he look in de back room; no Wolf dar. Den he look in de back 
po’ch; no Wolf dar. Den he look in de closet en de cubberd; no 
Wolf ain’t dar yit. Den ole Mr. Benjermun Ram, he tuck’n shot 
all de do’s en lock um, en he s’arch ’roun’ en he fine some peas en 
fodder in de lof’, w’ich he et um fer he supper, en den he lie down 
front er de fier en sleep soun’ ez a log. 

“Nex’ mawnin’ he ’uz up en stirrin’ monst’us soon, en he put 
out fum dar, en he fine de way ter Miss Meadows’ time ’nuff fer 
ter play at de frolic. W’en he git dar, Miss Meadows en de gals, 
dey run ter de gate fer ter meet ’im, en dis un tuck he hat, en dat 
un tuck he cane, en t’er’n tuck he fiddle, en den dey up’n say: — 

“‘Law, Mr. Ram! whar de name er goodness is you bin? We 
so glad you come. Stir ’roun’ yer, folks, en git Mr. Ram a cup er 
hot coffee.’ 

“Dey make a mighty big ter-do ’bout Mr. Benjermun Ram, 
40 


BRER RABBIT’S RIDDLE 


Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals did, but ’twix’ you en me 
en de bedpos’, honey, dey’d er had der frolic wh’er de ole chap 
’uz dar er not, kaze de gals done make ’rangerments wid Brer 
Rabbit fer ter pat fer um, en in dem days Brer Rabbit wuz a 
patter, mon. He mos’ sholy wuz.” 

s' 

X 

BRER RABBIT’S RIDDLE 

“Could Brother Rabbit pat a tune, sure enough, Uncle 
Remus?” asked the little boy, his thoughts apparently dwelling 
upon the new accomplishment of Brother Rabbit at which the old 
man had hinted in his story of Mr. Benjamin Ram. Uncle Remus 
pretended to be greatly surprised that any one could be so un¬ 
familiar with the accomplishments of Brother Rabbit as to ven¬ 
ture to ask such a question. His response was in the nature of a 
comment: — 

“Name er goodness! w’at kinder pass dish yer we cornin’ ter 
w’en a great big grow’d up young un axin’ ’bout Brer Rabbit? 
Bless yo’ soul, honey! dey wa’n’t no chune gwine dat Brer Rab¬ 
bit can’t pat. Let ’lone dat, w’en dey wuz some un else fer ter do 
de pattin’, Brer Rabbit kin jump out inter de middle er de flo’ 
en des nat’ally shake de eyel’ds off’en dem yuther creeturs. En 
’t wa’n’t none er dish yer bowin’ en scrapin’, en slippin’ en slidin’, 
en han’s all ’roun’, w’at folks does deze days. Hit uz dish yer up 
en down kinder dancin’, whar dey des lips up in de a’r fer ter cut 
de pidjin-wing, en lights on de flo’ right in de middle er de double¬ 
shuffle. Shoo! Dey ain’t no dancin’ deze days; folks’ shoes too 
tight, en dey ain’t got dat limbersomeness in de hips w’at dey 
uster is. Dat dey ain’t. 

“En yit,” Uncle Remus continued, in a tone which seemed to 
imply that he deemed it necessary to apologize for the apparent 

41 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


frivolity of Brother Rabbit, — “en yit de time come w’en ole Brer 
Rabbit ’gun ter put dis en dat tergedder, en de notion strak ’im 
dat he better be home lookin’ atter de intruss er he fambly, 
’stidder trapesin’ en trollopin’ ’roun’ ter all de frolics in de settle¬ 
ment. He tuck’n study dis in he min’ twel bimeby he sot out ’ter¬ 
min’ fer ter ’arn he own livelihoods, en den he up’n lay off a piece 
er groun’ en plant ’im a tater-patch. 

“Brer Fox, he see all dish yer gwine on, he did, en he ’low ter 
hisse’f dat he ’speck Brer Rabbit rashfulness done bin supjued 
kaze he skeer’d, en den Brer Fox make up his min’ dat he gwine 
ter pay Brer Rabbit back fer all he ’seetfulness. He start in, Brer 
Fox did, en fum dat time forrerd he aggervate Brer Rabbit ’bout 
he tater-patch. One night he leave de draw-bars down, ’n’er 
night he fling off de top rails, en nex’ night he t’ar down a whole 
panel er fence, en he keep on dis a-w r ay twel ’pariently Brer 
Rabbit dunner w’at ter do. All dis time Brer Fox keep on foolin’ 
wid de tater-patch, en w’en he see w’ich Brer Rabbit ain’t makin’ 
no motion, Brer Fox ’low dat he done skeer’d sho’ ’nuff, en dat 
de time done come fer ter gobble him up bidout lief er license. So 
he call on Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox did, en he ax ’im will he take 
a walk. Brer Rabbit, he ax wharbouts. Brer Fox say, right out 
yander. Brer Rabbit, he ax w’at is dey right out yander? Brer 
Fox say he know whar dey some mighty fine peaches, en he want 
Brer Rabbit fer ter go ’long en climb de tree en fling um down. 
Brer Rabbit say he don’t keer ef he do, mo’ speshually fer ter 
’blige Brer Fox. 

“Dey sot out, dey did, en atter w’ile, sho’ ’nuff, dey come ter de 
peach-orchud, en Brer Rabbit, w’at do he do but pick out a good 
tree, en up he clum. Brer Fox, he sot hisse’f at de root er de tree, 
kaze he ’low dat w’en Brer Rabbit come down he hatter come 
down backerds, en den dat ’ud be de time fer ter nab ’im. But, 
bless yo’ soul, Brer Rabbit dun see w’at Brer Fox atter ’fa’ he 
clum up. W’en he pull de peaches, Brer Fox say, sezee: — 

42 


BRER RABBIT’S RIDDLE 


Fling um down yer, Brer Rabbit — fling um right down yer 
so I kin ketch um/ sezee. 

“Brer Rabbit, he sorter wunk de furdest eye fum Brer Fox, en 
he holler back, he did: — 

“‘Ef I fling um down dar whar you is, Brer Fox, en you misses 
um, dey’ll git squshed,’ sezee, ‘so I’ll des sorter pitch um out 
yander in de grass whar dey won’t git bus’,’ sezee. 

“Den he tuck’n flung de peaches out in de grass, en w’iles Brer 
Fox went atter um, Brer Rabbit, he skint down outer de tree, en 
hustle hisse’f twel he git elbow-room. W’en he git off little ways, 
he up ’n holler back ter Brer Fox dat he got a riddle he want ’im 
ter read. Brer Fox, he ax w’at is it. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he 
gun it out ter Brer Fox lak a man sayin’ a speech: — 

Big bird rob en little bird sing , 

De big bee zoon en little bee sting, 

De little man lead en big hossf oiler — 

Kin you tell w'at *s goodfer a head in a hollerV 

“Ole Brer Fox scratch he head en study, en study en scratch he 
head, but de mo’ he study de wuss he git mix up wid de riddle, en 
atter w’ile he tuck’n tell Brer Rabbit dat he dunno how in de name 
er goodness ter onriddle dat riddle. 

“‘Come en go ’longer me,’ sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘en I 
boun’ you I show you how ter read dat same riddle. Hit’s one er 
dem ar kinder riddle,’ sez ole man Rabbit, sezee, ‘ w’ich ’fo’ you 
read ’er you got ter eat a bait er honey, en I done got my eye sot 
on de place whar we kin git de honey at,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox, he ax wharboutsis it, en Brer Rabbit, he say up dar 
in ole Brer B’ar cotton-patch, whar he got a whole passel er bee- 
gums. Brer Fox, he ’low, he did, dat he ain’t got no sweet-toof 
much, yit he wanter git at de innerds er dat ar riddle, en he don’t 
keer ef he do go ’long. 

“Dey put out, dey did, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ dey come ter ole 
Brer B’ar bee-gums, en ole Brer Rabbit, he up’n gun um a rap 

43 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


wid he walkin’-cane, des lak folks thumps water-millions fer ter 
see ef dey er ripe. He tap en he rap, en bimeby he come ter one un 
um w’ich she soun’ like she plum full, en den he go ’roun’ behime 
it, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he up’n say, sezee: — 

“ ‘ I ’ll des sorter tilt ’er up, Brer Fox,’ sezee, ‘ en you kin put yo’ 
head und’ dar en git some er de drippin’s,’ sezee. 

“Brer Rabbit, he tilt her up, en, sho’ ’nuff, Brer Fox, he jam 
he head un’need de gum. Hit make me laugh,” Uncle Remus con¬ 
tinued, with a chuckle, “fer ter see w’at a fresh man is Brer Fox, 
kaze he ain’t no sooner stuck he head un’need dat ar bee-gum, dan 
Brer Rabbit turnt ’er aloose, en down she come — ker-swosh I — 
right on Brer Fox neck, en dar he wuz. Brer Fox, he kick; he 
squeal; he jump; he squall; he dance; he prance; he beg; he pray; 
yit dar he wuz, en w’en Brer Rabbit git way off, en tu’n ’roun’ fer 
ter look back, he see Brer Fox des a-wigglin’ en a-squ’min’, en 
right den en dar Brer Rabbit gun one ole-time whoop, en des put 
out fer home. 

“W’en he git dar, de fus’ man he see wuz Brer Fox gran’daddy, 
w’ich folks all call ’im Gran’sir’ Gray Fox. W’en Brer Rabbit see 
’im, he say, sezee: — 

“‘How you come on, Gran’sir’ Gray Fox?’ 

‘“I still keeps po’ly, I’m ’blije ter you, Brer Rabbit,’ sez Gran’¬ 
sir’ Gray Fox, sezee. ‘Is you seed any sign er my gran’son dis 
mawnin’?’ sezee. 

“Wid dat Brer Rabbit laugh en say w’ich him en Brer Fox bin 
a-ramblin’ ’roun’ wid one er’n’er havin’ mo’ fun dan w’at a man 
kin shake a stick at. 

“‘We bin a-riggin’ up riddles en a-readin’ un um,’ sez Brer 
Rabbit, sezee. ‘BrerFox is settin’ off some’rs in de bushes right 
now, aimin’ fer ter read one w’at I gun ’im. I ’ll des drap you one,’ 
sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘w’ich, ef you kin read it, hit’ll take 
you right spang ter whar yo’ gran’son is, en you can’t git dar none 
too soon,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

44 



“BRER RABBIT TURNT ’ER ALOOSE, EN DOWN SHE COME — KER-S W OSH! ” 













































% 




* 























BRER RABBIT’S RIDDLE 


“ Den ole Gran’sir’ Gray Fox, he up ’n ax w’at is it, en Brer 
Rabbit, he sing out, he did: — 

*“De big bird rob en little bird sing; 

De big bee zoon en little bee sting, 

De little man lead en big hoss f oiler — 

Kin you tell w'at ’s good fer a head in a holler 1 * 

“Gran’sir’ Gray Fox, he tuck a pinch er snuff en cough easy ter 
hisse’f, en study en study, but he ain’t make it out, en Brer 
Rabbit, he laugh en sing: — 

“* Bee-gum mighty big fer ter make Fox collar, 

Kin you tell w'at *s good fer a head in a holler ? * 

“ Atter so long a time, Gran’sir’ Gray Fox sorter ketch a glimpse 
er w’at Brer Rabbit tryin’ ter gin ’im, en he tip Brer Rabbit good- 
day, en shuffle on fer ter hunt up he gran’son.” 

“And did he find him, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy. 

“Tooby sho’, honey. Brer B’ar year de racket w’at Brer Fox 
kickin’ up, en he go down dar fer ter see w’at de marter is. Soon 
ez he see how de lan’ lay, co’se he tuck a notion dat Brer Fox bin 
robbin’ de bee-gums, en he got ’im a han’ful er hick’ries. Brer 
B’ar did, en he let in on Brer Fox en he worn he jacket scannerlous, 
en den he tuck’n tu’n ’im loose; but’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ all de neigh¬ 
bors git wud dat Brer Fox bin robbin’ Brer B’ar bee-gums.” 



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XI 

HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER 


It seemed that the rainy season had set in in earnest, but the 
little boy went down to Uncle Remus’s cabin before dark. In 
some mysterious way, it appeared to the child, the gloom of twi¬ 
light fastened itself upon the dusky clouds, and the great trees 
without, and the dismal perspective beyond, gradually became 
one with the darkness. Uncle Remus had thoughtfully placed a 
tin pan under a leak in the roof, and the drip-drip-drip of the 
water, as it fell in the resonant vessel, made a not unmusical 
accompaniment to the storm. 

The old man fumbled around under his bed, and presently 
dragged forth a large bag filled with lightwood knots, which, with 
an instinctive economy in this particular direction, he had stored 
away for an emergency. A bright but flickering flame was the 
result of this timely discovery, and the effect it produced was 
quite in keeping with all the surroundings. The rain, and wind, 
and darkness held sway without, while within, the unsteady light- 
wood blaze seemed to rhyme with the drip-drip-drip in the pan. 
Sometimes the shadow of Uncle Remus, as he leaned over the 
hearth, would tower and fill the cabin, and again it would fade and 
disappear among the swaying and swinging cobwebs that cur¬ 
tained the rafters. 

“ W’en bed-time come, honey,” said Uncle Remus, in a sooth¬ 
ing tone, “I’ll des snatch down yo’ pa buggy umbrell’ fum up dar 
in de cornder, des lak I bin a-doin’, en I ’ll take’n take you und’ 
my arm en set you down on Miss Sally h’a’th des ez dry en ez 
worn ez a rat’-nes’ inside a fodder-stack.” 

At this juncture ’Tildy, the house-girl, rushed in out of the rain 

49 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

and darkness with a water-proof cloak and an umbrella, and 
announced her mission to the little boy without taking time to 
catch her breath. 

“Miss Sally say you got ter come right back,” she exclaimed. 
“ Kaze she skeerd lightin’ gwine strak ’roun’ in yer ’mongs’ deze 
high trees some’rs/’ 

Uncle Remus rose from his stooping posture in front of the 
hearth and assumed a threatening attitude. 

“Well, is anybody year de beat er dat!” was his indignant 
exclamation. “Look yer, gal! don’t you come foolin’ ’longer me 
— now, don’t you do it. Kaze ef yer does, I ’ll take’n hit you a 
clip w’at’ll put you ter bed ’fo’ bed-times come. Dat’s w’at!” 

' “Lawdy! w’at I done gone en done ter Unk’ Remus now?” 
asked ’Tildy, with a great affectation of innocent ignorance. 

“I’m gwine ter put on my coat en take dat ar umbrella en I’m 
gwine right straight up ter de big house en ax Miss Sally ef she 
sont dat kinder wud down yer, w’en she know dat chile sittin’ 
yer ’longer me. I’m gwine ter ax her,” continued Uncle Remus, 
“en if she ain’t sont dat wud, den I’m gwine ter fetch myse’f back. 
Now, you des watch my motions.” 

“Well, I year Miss Sally say she ’feard lightnin’ gwine ter strak 
some’rs on de place,” said ’Tildy, in a tone which manifested her 
willingness to compromise all differences, “en den I axt ’er kin I 
come down yer, en den she say I better bring deze yer cloak en 
pairsol.” 

“Now you dun brung um,” responded Uncle Remus, “you des 
better put um in dat cheer over dar, en take yo’se’f off. Thunder 
mighty ap’ ter hit close ter whar deze here slick-head niggers is.” 

But the little boy finally prevailed upon the old man to allow 
’Tildy to remain, and after a while he put matters on a peace 
footing by inquiring if roosters crowed at night when it was 
raining. 

“Dat dey duz,” responded Uncle Remus. “Wet er dry, dey 
50 


HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER 


flops derwings en wakes up all de neighbors. Law,bless my soul!’’ 
he exclaimed suddenly, “w’at make I done gone en fergit ’bout 
Mr. Rooster?” 

“What about him?” inquired the little boy. 

“One time, ’way back yander,” said Uncle Remus, knocking 
the ashes off his hands and knees, “dey wuz two plan’ations right 
’longside one er ’ne’r, en on bofe er deze plan’ations wuz a whole 
passel of fowls. Dey wuz mighty sociable in dem days, en it tu’n 
out dat de fowls on one plan’ation gun a party, w’ich dey sont 
out der invites ter de fowls on de ’t’er plan’ation. 

“ W’en de day come, Mr. Rooster, he blow his hawn, he did, en 
’semble um all tergedder, en atter dey ’semble dey got in line. 
Mr. Rooster, he tuck de head, en atter ’im come ole lady Hen en 
Miss Pullet, en den dar wuz Mr. Peafowl, en Mr. Tukkey Gob¬ 
bler, en Miss Guinny Hen, en Miss Puddle Duck, en all de bal¬ 
ance un um. Dey start off sorter raggedy, but’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ 
dey all kotch de step, en den dey march down by de spring, up 
thoo de hx>ss-lot en ’cross by de gin-house, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ 
dey git ter whar de frolic wuz. 

“‘Dey dance, en dey play, en dey sing. Mo’ ’speshually did 
dey play en sing dat ar song w’ich it run on lak dis: — 

“ * Come under, come under , 

My honey, my love, my own true love; 

My heart bin a-weepin* 

Way down in Galilee * 

“Dey wuz gwine on dis a-way, havin’ der ’musements, w’en, 
bimeby, ole Mr. Peafowl, he got on de comb er de barn en blow de 
dinner-hawn. Dey all wash der face en han’s in de back po’ch, en 
den dey went in ter dinner. W’en dey git in dar, dey don’t see 
nothin’ on de table but a great big pile er co’n-bread. De pones 
was pile up on pones, en on de top wuz a great big ash-cake. Mr. 
Rooster, he look at dis en he tu’n up he nose, en bimeby, atter 
aw’ile, out he strut. Ole Miss Guinny Hen, she watchin’ Mr. 

51 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

Rooster motions, en w’en she see dis, she take’n squall out, she 
did: — 

“ 'Pot-rack! Pot-rack! Mr. Rooster gone back! Pollack! Pot- 
rack ! Mr. Rooster gone back! ’ 

“ Wid dat dey all make a great ter-do. Miss Hen en Miss Pullet, 
dey cackle en squall, Mr. Gobbler, he gobble, en Miss Puddle 
Duck, she shake ’er tail en say, quickity-quack-quack. But Mr. 
Rooster, he ruffle up he cape, en march on out. 

“Dis sorter put a damper on de yuthers, but ’fo’ Mr. Rooster 
git outer sight en yearn dey went ter wuk on de pile w’at wuz 
’pariently co’n-bread, en, lo en beholes, un’need dem pone er 
bread wuz a whole passel er meat en greens, en bake’ taters, en 
bile’ turnips. Mr. Rooster, he year de ladies makin’ great ’mira¬ 
tion, en he stop en look thoo de crack, en dar he see all de doin’s 
en fixin’s. He feel mighty bad, Mr. Rooster did, w’en he see all dis, 
en de yuther fowls dey holler en ax ’im fer ter come back, en he 
craw, w’ich it mighty empty, likewise, it up’n ax ’im, but he 
mighty biggity en stuck up, en he strut off, crowin’ ez he go; 
but he ’speunce er dat time done las’ him en all er his fambly down 
ter dis day. En you neenter take my wud fer’t, ne’r, kaze ef you ’ll 
des keep yo’ eye open en watch, you ’ll ketch a glimse er ole Mr. 
Rooster folks scratchin’ whar dey ’specks ter fine der rations, en 
mo’ dan dat, dey’ll scratch wid der rations in plain sight. Since 
dat time, dey ain’t none er de Mr. Roosters bin fool’ by dat w’at 
dey see on top. Dey ain’t res’twel dey see w’at und’dar. Dey’ll 
scratch spite er all creation.” 

“Dat’s de Lord’s truth!” said ’Tildy, with unction. “I done 
seed um wid my own eyes. Dat I is.” 

This was ’Tildy’s method of renewing peaceful relations with 
Uncle Remus, but the old man was disposed to resist the attempt. 

“You better be up yander washin’ up dishes, stidder hoppin’ 
down yer wid er whole packet er stuff w’at Miss Sally ain’t 
dreamp er sayin’.” 


52 


BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY 


XII 

BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY 

As long as Uncle Remus allowed ’Tildy to remain in the cabin, 
the little boy was not particularly interested in preventing the 
perfunctory abuse which the old man might feel disposed to be¬ 
stow upon the complacent girl. The truth is, the child’s mind 
was occupied with the episode in the story of Mr. Benjamin 
Ram which treats of the style in which this romantic old wag put 
Mr. and Mrs. Wolf to flight by playing a tune upon his fiddle. 
The little boy was particularly struck with this remarkable feat, 
as many a youngster before him had been, and he made bold to 
recur to it again by asking Uncle Remus for all the details. It 
was plain to the latter that the child regarded Mr. Ram as the 
typical hero of all the animals, and this was by no means gratify¬ 
ing to the old man. He answered the little boy’s questions as well 
as he could, and, when nothing more remained to be said about 
Mr. Ram, he settled himself back in his chair and resumed the 
curious history of Brother Rabbit: — 

“Co’se Mr. Ram mighty smart man. I ain’t ’spute dat; but 
needer Mr. Ram ner yet Mr. Lam is soon creeturs lak Brer 
Rabbit. Mr. Benjermun Ram, he tuck’n skeer off Brer Wolf en 
his ole ’oman wid his fiddle, but, bless yo’ soul, ole Brer Rabbit 
he gone en done wuss’n dat.” 

“What did Brother Rabbit do?” asked the little boy. 

“One time,” said Uncle Remus, “Brer Fox, he tuck’n ax some 
er de yuther creeturs ter he house. He ax Brer B’ar, en Brer Wolf, 
en Brer ’Coon, but he ain’t ax Brer Rabbit. All de same, Brer 
Rabbit got win’ un it, en he ’low dat ef he don’t go, he ’speck he 
have much fun ez de nex’ man. 

“De creeturs w’at git de invite, dey tuck’n ’semble at Brer 
Fox house, en Brer Fox, he ax um in en got um cheers, en dey 

53 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


sot dar en laugh en talk, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox, he fotch out a 
bottle er dram en lay ’er out on de side-bode, en den he sorter step 
back en say, sezee: — 

“ ‘Des step up, gentermens, en he’pyo’se’f,’en you better b’lieve 
dey he’p derse’f. 

“W’iles dey wuz drinkin’ en drammin’ en gwine on, w’at you 
’speck Brer Rabbit doin’? You des well make up yo’ min’ dat 
Brer Rabbit monst’us busy, kaze he ’uz sailin’ ’roun’ fixin’ up his 
tricks. Long time ’fo’ dat, Brer Rabbit had been at a bobbycue 
whar dey was a muster, en w’iles all de folks ’uz down at de spring 
eatin’ dinner, Brer Rabbit he crope up en run off wid one er de 
drums. Dey wuz a big drum en a little drum, en Brer Rabbit he 
snatch up de littles’ one en run home. 

“Now, den, w’en he year ’bout de yuther creeturs gwine ter 
Brer Fox house, w’at do Brer Rabbit do but git out dis rattlin’ 
drum en make de way down de road todes whar dey is. He tuk 
dat drum,” continued Uncle Remus, with great elation of voice 
and manner, “en he went down de road todes Brer Fox house, en 
he make ’er talk like thunner mix up wid hail. Hit talk lak dis: — 
“‘ Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum — diddybum!’ 
“De creeturs, dey ’uz a-drinkin’, en a-drammin’, en a-gwine on 
at a terrible rate, en dey ain’t year de racket, but all de same, 
yer come Brer Rabbit: — 

“‘ Diddybum , diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum — diddybum /’ 
“Bimeby Brer ’Coon, w’ich he allers got one year hung out fer 
de news, he up’n ax Brer Fox w’at dat, en by dat time all de 
creeturs stop en lissen; but all de same, yer come Brer Rabbit: — 
“‘Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum — diddybum /’ 
“De creeturs dey keep on lis’nin’, en Brer Rabbit keep on 
gittin’ nigher, twel bimeby Brer ’Coon retch und’ de cheer fer he 
hat, en say, sezee: — 

Well, gents, I ’speck I better be gwine. I tole my ole ’oman 
dat I won’t be gone a minnit, en yer’t is ’way ’long in de day.’ 

54 


BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY 


“ Wid dat Brer ’Coon, he skip out, but he ain’t git much furder 
dan de back gate, ’fo’ yer come all de yuther creeturs like dey ’uz 
runnin’ a foot-race, en ole Brer Fox wuz wukkin’ in de lead.” 

“Dar, now!” exclaimed ’Tildy, with great fervor. 

“Yasser! dar dey wuz, en dar dey went,” continued Uncle 
Remus. “Dey tuck nigh cuts, en dey scramble over one er ’n’er, 
en dey ain’t res’ twel dey git in de bushes. 

“Ole Brer Rabbit, he came on down de road — diddybum , 
diddybum , diddybum-bum-bum — en bless gracious! w’en he git 
ter Brer Fox house dey ain’t nobody dar. Brer Rabbit is dat ow- 
dacious, dat he hunt all ’roun’ twel he fine de a’r-hole er de drum, 
en he put his mouf ter dat en sing out, sezee: — 

“ ‘ Is dey anybody home? ’ en den he answer hisse’f, sezee, ‘Law, 
no, honey — folks all gone.’ 

“Wid dat, ole Brer Rabbit break loose en laugh, he did, fit ter 
kill hisse’f, en den he slam Brer Fox front gate wide open, en 
march up ter de house. W’en he git dar, he kick de do’ open en 
hail Brer Fox, but nobody ain’t dar, en Brer Rabbit he walk in 
en take a cheer, en make hisse’f at home wid puttin’ his foots on 
de sofy en spittin’ on de flo\ 1 1 

“Brer Rabbit ain’t sot dar long ’fo’ he ketch a whiff er de 
dram —” 

“You year dat?” exclaimed ’Tildy, with convulsive admira¬ 
tion. 

“ — ’Fo’ he ketch a whiff er de dram, en den he see it on de side- 
bode, en he step up en drap ’bout a tumbeler full some’rs down 
in de neighborhoods er de goozle. Brer Rabbit mighty lak some 
folks I knows. He tuck one tumbeler full, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ 
he tuck ’n’er’n, en w’en a man do dis a-way,” continued Uncle 
Remus, somewhat apologetically, “he bleedz ter git drammy.” 

“Truth, too!” said ’Tildy, by way of hearty confirmation. 

“All des time de yuther creeturs wuz down in de bushes 
lissenin’ fer de diddybum , en makin’ ready fer ter light out fum dar 

55 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


at de drop uv a hat. But dey ain’t year no mo’ fuss, en bimeby 
Brer Fox, he say he gwine back en look atter he plunder, en de 
yuther creeturs say dey b’leeve dey’ll go ’long wid ’im. Dey start 
out, dey did, en dey crope todes Brer Fox house, but dey crope 
mighty keerful, en I boun’ ef somebody’d ’a’ shuck a bush, dem 
ar creeturs ’ud ’a’ nat’ally to’ up de ye’th gittin’ ’way fum dar. 
Yit dey still ain’t year no fuss, en dey keep on creepin’ twel dey 
git in de house. 

“W’en dey git in dar, de fus’ sight dey see wuz ole Brer Rab¬ 
bit stannin’ up by de dram-bottle mixin’ up a toddy, en he wa’n’t 
so stiff-kneed n’er, kase he sorter swage fum side ter side, en he 
look lak he mighty limbersome, w’ich, goodness knows, a man 
bleedz ter be limbersome w’en he drink dat kinder licker w’at 
Brer Fox perwide fer dem creeturs. 

‘‘W’en Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit makin’ free wid he doin’s 
dat a-way, w’at you ’speck he do?” inquired Uncle Remus, with 
the air of one seeking general information. 

“I ’speck he cusst,” said ’Tildy, who was apt to take a vividly 
practical view of matters. 

“He was glad,” said the little boy, “because he had a good 
chance to catch Brother Rabbit.” 

“Tooby sho’ he wuz,” continued Uncle Remus, heartily assent¬ 
ing to the child’s interpretation of the situation: “tooby sho’ he 
wuz. He stan’ dar, Brer Fox did, en he watch Brer Rabbit mo¬ 
tions. Bimeby he holler out, sezee: — 

“‘Ah yi ! 1 Brer Rabbit!’ sezee. ‘Many a time is you made 
yo’ ’scape, but now I got you! ’ En wid dat, Brer Fox en de yuther 
creeturs cloze in on Brer Rabbit. 

“Seem like I done tole you dat Brer Rabbit done gone en tuck 
mo’ dram dan w’at ’uz good fer he wholesome. Yit he head ain’t 
swim so bad dat he dunner w’at he doin’, en time he lay eyes on 

1 A corruption of “aye, aye.” It is used as an expression of triumph and its employ¬ 
ment in this connection is both droll and picturesque. 

56 


BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY 

Brer Fox, he know he done got in close quarters. Soon ez he see 
dis, Brer Rabbit make like he bin down in de cup mo’ deeper dan 
w’at he is, en he stagger ’roun’ like town gal stannin’ in a batteau, 
en he seem lak he des ez limber ez a wet rag. He stagger up ter 
Brer Fox, he did, en he roll he eyeballs ’roun’, en slap ’im on he 
back en ax ’im how he ma. Den w’en he see de yuther creeturs,” 
continued Uncle Remus, “he holler out, he did: — 

“‘Vents yo’ uppance, gentermens! Vents yo’ uppance ! 1 Ef 
you ’ll des gimme han’-roomance en come one at a time, de tussle 
’ll las’ longer. How you all come on, nohow?’ sezee. 

“Ole Brer Rabbit talk so kuse dat de yuther creeturs have mo’ 
fun dan w’at you k’n shake a stick at, but bimeby Brer Fox say 
dey better git down ter business, en den dey all cloze in on Brer 
Rabbit, en dar he wuz. 

“In dem days, ole man B’ar wuz a jedge ’mongs’ de creeturs, 
en dey all ax ’im w’at dey gwine do ’long wid Brer Rabbit, en 
Jedge B’ar, he put on his specks, en cle’r up his th’oat, en say dat 
de bes’ way ter do wid a man w’at kick up sech a racket, en run 
de neighbors outer der own house, en go in dar en level 2 on de 
pantry, is ter take ’im out en drown ’im; en ole Brer Fox, w’ich 
he settin’ on de jury, he up’n smack he hands togedder, en cry, en 
say, sezee, dat atter dis he bleedzter b’leeve dat Jedge B’ar done 
got all-under holt on de lawyer-books, kaze dat ’zackly w’at dey 
say w’en a man level on he neighbor pantry. 

“Den Brer Rabbit, he make out he skeerd, en he holler en cry, 
en beg um, in de name er goodness, don’t fling ’im in de spring 
branch, kaze dey all know he dunner how ter swim: but ef dey 
bleedz fer ter pitch ’im in, den for mussy sake gin’ ’im a walkin’- 
cane, so he kin have sumpin’ ter hoi’ ter w’iles he drownin’. 

“Ole Brer B’ar scratch his head en say, sezee, dat, fur ez his 

1 Southern readers will recognize this and “han’-roomance” as terms used by 
negroes in playing marbles, — a favorite game on the plantations Sunday afternoons. 
These terms were curt and expressive enough to gain currency among the whites. 

2 Levy. 


57 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

’membunce go back, he ain’t come ’cross nothin’ in de lawyer- 
book ter de contraries er dat, en den dey all ’gree dat Brer Rab¬ 
bit kin have a walkin’-cane. 

“ Wid dat, dey ketch up Brer Rabbit en put ’im in a wheelbor- 
row en kyar ’im down ter de branch, en fling ’im in.” 

“Eh-eh!” exclaimed ’Tildy, with well-feigned astonishment. 

“Dey fling ’im in,” continued Uncle Remus, “en Brer Rabbit 
light on he foots, same ez a tomcat, en pick his way out by de 
helps er de walkin’-cane. De water wuz dat shaller dat it don’t 
mo’n come over Brer Rabbit slipper, en w’en he git out on t’er 
side, he holler back, sezee: — 

“‘So long, Brer Fox!”’ 


XIII 

BRER FOX, BRER RABBIT, AND KING 
DEER’S DAUGHTER 

Notwithstanding Brother Rabbit’s success with the drum, the 
little boy was still inclined to refer to Mr. Benjamin Ram and his 
fiddle; but Uncle Remus was not, by any means, willing that such 
an ancient vagabond as Mr. Ram should figure as a hero, and he 
said that, while it was possible that Brother Rabbit was no great 
hand with the fiddle, he was a drummer, and a capital singer to 
boot. Furthermore, Uncle Remus declared that Brother Rabbit 
could perform upon the quills , 1 an accomplishment to which none 
of the other animals could lay claim. There was a time, too, the 
old man pointedly suggested, when the romantic rascal used his 
musical abilities to win the smiles of a nice young lady of quality 
— no less a personage, indeed, than King Deer’s daughter. As 
a matter of course, the little boy was anxious to hear the particu¬ 
lars, and Uncle Remus was in nowise loath to give them. 

1 The veritable Pan’s pipes. A simple but very effective musical instrument made of 
reeds, and in great favor on the plantations. 

58 


BRER FOX AND BRER RABBIT 

“ W’en you come ter ax me ’bout de year en day er de montY’ 
said the old man, cunningly arranging a defence against criti¬ 
cism, “den I’m done, kaze de almanick w’at dey got in dem times 
won’t pass muster deze days, but, let ’lone dat, I ’speck dey ain’t 
had none yit; en if dey is, dey ain’t none bin handed down ter 
Remus. 

“Well, den, some time ’long in dar, ole Brer Fox en Brer Rab¬ 
bit got ter flyin’ ’roun’ King Deer daughter. Dey tells me she 
’uz a monst’us likely gal, en I ’speck may be she wuz; leas’ways. 
Brer Fox, he hanker atter ’er, en likewise Brer Rabbit, he hanker 
atter ’er. Ole King Deer look lak he sorter lean todes Brer Fox, 
kaze ter a settle man like him, hit seem lak dat Brer Fox kin stir 
’roun’ en keep de pot a-b’ilin’, mo’ speshually bein’s he de bigges’. 
Hit go on dis a-way twel hardly a day pass dat one er de yuther 
er dem creeturs don’t go sparklin’ ’roun’ King Deer daughter, en 
it got so atter w’ile dat all day long Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox keep 
de front gate a-skreakin’, en King Deer daughter ain’t ska’cely 
had time fer ter eat a meal vittels in no peace er min’. 

“In dem days,” pursued Uncle Remus, in a tone of unmis¬ 
takable historical fervor, “ w’en a creetur go a-courtin’ dey wa’n’t 
none er dish yer bokay doin’s mix’ up ’longer der co’tship, en dey 
ain’t cut up no capers like folks does now. Stidder scollopin’ 
’roun’ en bowin’ en scrapin’, dey des go right straight atter de 
gal. Ole Brer Rabbit, he mouter had some bubby-blossoms 1 wrop 
up in his hankcher, but mostly him en Brer Fox ’ud des drap in 
on King Deer daughter en ’gin ter cas’ sheep-eyes at ’er time dey 
sot down en cross der legs.” 

“En I bet,” said ’Tildy, by way of comment, and looking as 
though she wanted to blush, “dat dey wa’n’t ’shame’, nuther.” 

“Dey went ’long dis a-way,” continued Uncle Remus, “twel it 
’gun ter look sorter skittish wid Brer Rabbit, kaze ole King Deer 
done good ez say, sezee, dat he gwine ter take Brer Fox inter de 

1 A species of sweet-shrub growing wild in the South. 

59 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


fambly. Brer Rabbit, he ’low, he did, dat dis ain’t gwine ter do, 
en he study en study how he gwine ter cut Brer Fox out, 

“Las’, one day, w’iles he gwine thoo King Deer pastur’ lot, he 
up wid a rock en kilt two er King Deer goats. W’en he git ter de 
house, he ax King Deer daughter whar’bouts her pa, en she up’n 
say she go call ’im, en w’en Brer Rabbit see ’im, he ax w’en de 
weddin’ tuck place, en King Deer ax w’ich weddin’, en Brer Rab¬ 
bit say de weddin’ ’twix’ Brer Fox en King Deer daughter. Wid 
dat, ole King Deer ax Brer Rabbit w’at make he go on so, en 
Brer Rabbit, he up’n ’spon’ dat he see Brer Fox makin’ monst’us 
free wid de fambly, gwine ’roun’ chunkin’ de chickens en killin’ 
up de goats. 

“Ole King Deer strak he walkin’-cane down ’pon de flo’, en 
’low dat he don’t put no ’pennunce in no sech tale lak dat, en den 
Brer Rabbit tell ’im dat ef he’ll des take a walk down in de 
pastur’ lot, he kin see de kyarkiss er de goats. Ole King Deer, he 
put out, en bimeby he come back, en he ’low he gwine ter settle 
marters wid Brer Fox ef it take ’im a mont’. 

“Brer Rabbit say he a good frien’ ter Brer Fox, en he ain’t got 
no room ter talk ’bout ’im, but yit w’en he see ’im ’stroyin’ King 
Deer goats en chunkin’ at his chickens, en rattlin’ on de palin’s 
fer ter make de dog bark, he bleedz ter come lay de case ’fo’ de 
fambly. 

“‘En mo’n dat,’ sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘I’m de man w’at 
kin make Brer Fox come en stan’ right at de front gate en tell you 
dat he is kill dem goat; en ef you des wait twel ter-night, I won’t 
ax you ter take my wud,’ sezee. 

“King Deer say ef Brer Rabbit man ’nuff ter do dat, den he 
kin git de gal en thanky, too. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit jump up en 
crack he heels tergedder, en put out fer ter fine Brer Fox. He 
ain’t git fur ’fo’ he see Brer Fox cornin’ down de road all primp 
up. Brer Rabbit, he sing out, he did: — 

“‘Brer Foxy, whar you gwine?’ 

60 


BRER FOX AND BRER RABBIT 

“En Brer Fox, he holler back: — 

“‘Go ’way, Rab; don’t bodder wid me. I’m gwine fer ter see 
my gal.’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he laugh ’way down in his stomach, but he don’t 
let on, en atter some mo’ chat, he up’n say dat ole King Deer done 
tell ’im ’bout how Brer Fox gwine ter marry he daughter, en den 
he tell Brer Fox dat he done promise King Deer dat dey’d drap 
’roun’ ter-night en gin ’im some music. 

“‘En I up’n tole ’im,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘dat de music 
w’at we can’t make ain’t wuth makin’, — me wid my quills, en 
you wid yo’ tr’angle . 1 De nex’ motion we makes,’ sezee, ‘we’ll 
hatter go off some’rs en practise up on de song we ’ll sing, en I got 
one yer dat’ll tickle um dat bad,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘twel I 
lay dey ’ll fetch out a hunk er dat big chicken-pie w’at I see um 
puttin’ in de pot des now,’ sezee. 

“In a ’casion lak dis, Brer Fox say he de ve’y man w’at Brer 
Rabbit huntin’, en he ’low dat he’ll des ’bout put off payin’ he 
call ter King Deer house en go wid Brer Rabbit fer ter practise 
on dat song. 

“Den Brer Rabbit, he git he quills en Brer Fox he git he 
tr’angle, en dey went down on de spring branch, en dar dey sing 
en play, twel dey git it all by heart. Ole Brer Rabbit, he make up 
de song he own se’f, en he fix it so dat he sing de call, lak de cap¬ 
tain er de co’n-pile, en ole Brer Fox, he hatter sing de answer.” 2 

At this point Uncle Remus paused to indulge in one of his 
suggestive chuckles, and then proceeded: — 

“Don’t talk ’bout no songs ter me. Gentermens! dat ’uz a 
funny song fum de wud go. Bimeby, w’en dey practise long time, 
dey gits up en goes ’roun’ in de neighborhoods er King Deer house, 
en w’en night come dey tuck der stan’ at de front gate, en atter all 
got still, Brer Rabbit, he gun de wink, en dey broke loose wid der 
music. Dey played a chune er two on de quills en tr’angle, en den 

1 Triangle. 2 That is to say, Brother Rabbit sang the air and Brother Fox the refrain. 

61 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

dey got ter de song. Ole Brer Rabbit, he got de call, en he open 
up lak dis: — 

“* Some folks pile up mo'n dey kin tote, 

En dat w'at de marter wid King Deer goat,* 

en den Brer Fox, he make answer: — 

“'Dot's so, dot's so, en I'm glad dat it's so l* 

Den de quills en de tr’angle, dey come in, en den Brer Rabbit 
pursue on wid de call: — 

“'Some kill sheep en some kill shote. 

But Brer Fox kill King Deer goat,* 

en den Brer Fox, he jine in wid de answer: — 

'"I did, dat I did, en I'm glad dat I did 1* 

En des ’bout dat time King Deer, he walk outer de gate en hit 
Brer Fox a clip wid his walkin’-cane, en he toiler it up wid ’n’er’n, 
dat make Brer Fox fa’rly squall, en you des better b’lieve he 
make tracks ’way fum dar, en de gal she come out, en dey ax 
Brer Rabbit in.” 

“Did Brother Rabbit marry King Deer’s daughter, Uncle 
Remus?” asked the little boy. 

“Now, den, honey, you’re crowdin’ me,” responded the old 
man. “Dey ax ’im in, en dey gun ’im a great big hunk er 
chicken-pie, but I won’t make sho’ dat he tuck’n marry de gal. 
De p’int wid me is de way Brer Rabbit run Brer Fox off fum 
dar.” 

XIV 

BRER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BRER BUZZARD 

There was a pause here, which was finally broken by ’Tildy, 
whose remark was in the shape of a very undignified yawn. Uncle 
Remus regarded her for a moment with an expression of undis¬ 
guised scorn, which quickly expressed itself in words: — 

62 


BRER TERRAPIN AND BRER BUZZARD 


“Ef you’d er bin outer de house dat whack, you’d er tuck us 
all in. Pity dey ain’t some place er ’n’er whar deze yer trollops 
kin go en l’arn manners.” 

’Tildy, however, ignored the old man, and, with a toss of her 
head, said to the little boy in a cool, exasperating tone, employing 
a pet name she had heard the child’s mother use: — 

“Well, Pinx, I ’speck we better go. De rain done mos’ hilt up 
now, en bimeby de stars’ll be a-shinin’. Miss Sally lookin’ fer 
you right now.” 

“You better go whar you gwine, you triflin’ huzzy, you!” 
exclaimed Uncle Remus. “You better go git yo’ Jim Crow kyard 
en straighten out dem wrops in yo’ ha’r. I allers year w’ite folks 
say you better keep yo’ eye on niggers w’at got der ha’r wrop up 
in strings. Now I done gun you fa’r warnin’s.” 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, when the old man’s wrath 
had somewhat subsided, “why do they call them Jim Crow 
cards?” 

“I be bless ef I know, honey, ’ceppin’ it’s kaze dey er de onliest 
machine w’at deze yer low-life niggers kin oncomb der kinks wid. 
Now, den,” continued the old man, straightening up and speak¬ 
ing with considerable animation, “dat ’min’s me ’bout a riddle 
w’at been runnin’ ’roun’ in my head. En dat riddle — it’s de 
outdoin’es’ riddle w’at I mos’ ever year tell un. Hit go lak dis: 
Ef he come, he don’t come; ef he don’t come, he come. Now, I 
boun’ you can’t tell w’at is dat.” 

After some time spent in vain guessing, the little boy confessed 
that he did n’t know. 

“Hit’s crow en co’n,” said Uncle Remus sententiously. 

“Crow and corn, Uncle Remus?” 

“Co’se, honey. Crow come, de co’n don’t come; crow don’t 
come, den de co’n come.” 

“Dat’s so,” said ’Tildy. “I done see um pull up co’n,en I done 
see co’n grow w’at dey don’t pull up.” 

63 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


If ’Tildy thought to propitiate Uncle Remus, she was mistaken. 
He scowled at her, and addressed himself to the little boy: — 

“De Crow, he mighty close kin ter de Buzzud, en dat puts me 
in min’ dat we ain’t bin a-keepin’ up wid ole Brer Buzzud close 
ez we might er done. 

“ W’at de case mout be deze days, I ain’t a-sayin’, but, in dem 
times, ole Brer Tarrypin love honey mo’ samer dan Brer B’ar, but 
he wuz dat flat-footed dat, w’en he fine a bee-tree, he can’t climb 
it, en he go so slow dat he can’t hardly fine um. Bimeby, one day, 
w’en he gwine ’long down de road des a-honin’ atter honey, who 
should he meet but ole Brer Buzzud. 

“Dey shuck han’s mighty sociable en ax ’bout de news er de 
neighborhoods, en den, atter w’ile, Brer Tarrypin say ter ole Brer 
Buzzud, sezee, dat he wanter go inter cahoots wid ’im ’longer 
gittin’ honey, en ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ dey struck a trade. Brer 
Buzzud wuz ter fly ’roun’ en look fer de bee-tree, en Brer Tarry¬ 
pin he wuz ter creep en crawl, en hunt on de groun’. 

“Dey start out, dey did, ole Brer Buzzud sailin’ ’roun’ in de 
elements, en ole Brer Tarrypin shufflin’en shamblin’ on de groun’. 
’Mos’ de ve’y fus’ fiel’ w’at he come ter, Brer Tarrypin strak up 
wid a great big bumbly-bee nes’ in de groun’. He look ’roun’, ole 
Brer Tarrypin did, en bimeby he stick he head in en tas’e de 
honey, en den he pull it out en look all ’roun’ fer ter see ef he kin 
ketch a glimpse er Brer Buzzud; but Brer Buzzud don’t seem lak 
he nowhar. Den Brer Tarrypin say to hisse’f, sezee, dat he ’speck 
dat bumbly-bee honey ain’t de kinder honey w’at dey been talkin’ 
’bout, en dey ain’t no great shakes er honey dar nohow. Wid dat, 
Brer Tarrypin crope inter de hole en gobble up de las’ drop er de 
bumbly-bee honey by he own-alone se’f. Atter he done make 
’way wid it, he come out, he did, en he whirl in en lick it all off’n 
his footses, so ole Brer Buzzud can’t tell dat he done bin git a mess 
er honey. 

“Den ole Brer Tarrypin stretch out he neck en try ter lick de 
64 


BRER TERRAPIN AND BRER BUZZARD 


honey off’n he back, but he neck too short; en he try ter scrape it 
off up ’g’in’ a tree, but it don’t come off; en den he waller on de 
groun’, but still it don’t come off. Den old Brer Tarrypin jump 
up, en say ter hisse’f dat he’ll des ’bout rack off home, en w’en 
Brer Buzzud come he kin lie on he back en say he sick, so ole 
Brer Buzzud can’t see de honey. 

“Brer Tarrypin start off, he did, but he happen ter look up, en, 
lo en beholes, dar wuz Brer Buzzud huv’rin’ right spang over de 
spot whar he is. Brer Tarrypin know Brer Buzzud bleedz ter see 
’im ef he start off home, en mo’n dat, he know he be fine out ef 
he don’t stir ’roun’ en do sump’n’ mighty quick. Wid dat, Brer 
Tarrypin shuffle back ter de bumbly-bee nes’ swif’ ez he kin, en 
buil’ ’im a fier in dar, en den he crawl out en holler: — 

“‘Brer Buzzud! 0 Brer Buzzud! Run yer, fer gracious sake, 
Brer Buzzud, en look how much honey I done fine! I des crope 
in a little ways, en it des drip all down my back, same like water. 
Run yer, Brer Buzzud! Half yone en half mine, Brer Buzzud!’ 

“Brer Buzzud, he flop down, en he laugh en say he mighty 
glad, kaze he done git hongry up dar whar he bin. Den Brer 
Tarrypin tell Brer Buzzud fer ter creep in little ways en tas’e en 
see how he like um, w’iles he take his stan’ on de outside en watch 
fer somebody. But no sooner is Brer Buzzud crope in de bumbly- 
bee nes’ dan Brer Tarrypin take’n roll a great big rock front er 
de hole. Terreckly, de fier ’gun ter bu’n Brer Buzzud, en he sing 
out like a man in trouble: — 

“‘ Sump’n’ bitin’ me, Brer Tarrypin — sump’n’ bitin’ me, Brer 
Tarrypin! ’ 

“Den ole Brer Tarrypin, he holler back: — 

‘“It’s de bumbly-bees a-stingin’ you, Brer Buzzud; stan’ up en 
flop yo’ wings, Brer Buzzud. Stan’ up en flop yo’ wings, Brer 
Buzzud, en you’ll drive um off,’ sezee. 

“Brer Buzzud flop en flop he wings, but de mo’ w’at he flop, de 
mo’ he fan de fier, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he done bodaciously bu’n 

65 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

up, all ’ceppin’ de big een er his wing-fedders, en dem ole Brer 
Tarrypin tuck en make inter some quills, w’ich he go ’roun’ a- 
playin’ un um, en de chune w’at he play was dish yer: — 

“‘I foolee, I foolee, Ifoolee po* Buzzud; 

Po* Buzzud 1 foolee, Ifoolee, I foolee*** 


XV 

BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS 

“That must have been a mighty funny song,” said the little 
boy. 

“Fun one time ain’t fun ’n’er time; some folks fines fun whar 
yuther folks fines trouble. Pig may laugh w’en he see de rock 
a-heatin’, but dey ain’t no fun dar fer de pig. 1 

“ Yit, fun er no fun, dat de song w’at Brer Tarrypin play on 
de quills: — 

“‘Ifoolee, Ifoolee, Ifoolee po* Buzzud; 

Po ’ Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee* 

“Nobody dunner whar de quills cum fum, kaze Brer Tarrypin, 
he ain’t makin’ no brags how he git um; yit ev’ybody wants um on 
account er der playin’ sech a lonesome 2 chune, en ole Brer Fox, 
he want um wuss ’n all. He beg en he beg Brer Tarrypin fer ter 
sell ’im dem quills; but Brer Tarrypin, he hoi’ on t’ um tight, en 
say eh-eh! Den he ax Brer Tarrypin fer ter loan um t’ um des a 
week, so he kin play fer he chilluns, but Brer Tarrypin, he shake 
he head en put he foot down, en keep on playin’: — 

“ * I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po* Buzzud; 

Po* Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee 


1 An allusion to the primitive mode of cleaning hogs by heating rocks, and placing 
them in a barrel or tank of water. 

2 This word “lonesome,” as used by the negroes, is the equivalent of “ thrilling,” 
“romantic,” etc., and in that sense is very expressive. 

66 



BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS 

“But Brer Fox, he ain’t got no peace er min’ on account er dem 
quills, en one day he meet Brer Tarrypin en he ax ’im how he seem 
ter segashuate 1 en he fambly en all he chilluns; en den Brer Fox 
ax Brer Tarrypin ef he can’t des look at de quills, kaze he got 
some goose-fedders at he house, en if he kin des get a glimpse er 
Brer Tarrypin quills, he ’speck he kin make some mighty like um. 

“Brer Tarrypin, he study ’bout dis, but he hate ter ’ny small 
favors like dat, en bimeby he hoi’ out dem quills whar Brer Fox 
kin see um. Wid dat, Brer Fox, he tuck’n juk de quills outen Brer 
Tarrypin han’, he did, and dash off des ez hard ez he kin go. Brer 
Tarrypin, he holler en holler at ’im des loud ez he kin holler, but 
he know he can’t ketch ’im, en he des sot dar, Brer Tarrypin did, 
en look lak he done los’ all de kin-folks w’at he got in de roun’ 
worrul’. 

“Atter dis, Brer Fox he strut ’roun’ en play mighty biggity, 
en eve’y time he meet Brer Tarrypin in de road he walk all ’roun’ 
’im en play on de quills like dis: — 

“*/ foolee, I foolee po ’ Buzzud; 

I foolee ole Tarrypin, too* 

“Brer Tarrypin, he feel mighty bad, but he ain’t sayin’ nothin’. 
Las’, one day w’iles ole Brer Tarrypin was settin’ on a log sunnin’ 
hisse’f, yer come Brer Fox playin’ dat same old chune on de quills, 
but Brer Tarrypin, he stay still. Brer Fox, he come up little 
nigher en play, but Brer Tarrypin, he keep he eyes shot en he 
stay still. Brer Fox, he come nigher en git on de log; Brer Tarry¬ 
pin ain’t sayin’ nothin’. Brer Fox still git up nigher en play on 
de quills; still Brer Tarrypin ain’t sayin’ nothin’. 

“‘Brer Tarrypin mighty sleepy dis mawnin’,’ sez Brer Fox, 
sezee. 

“Still Brer Tarrypin keep he eyes shot en stay still. Brer Fox 
keep on gittin’ nigher en nigher, twel bimeby Brer Tarrypin open 

1 An inquiry after his health. Another form is: “How does yo’ corporosity seem ter 
segashuate? ** 


67 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

he eyes en he mouf bofe, en he make a grab at Brer Fox en miss 
’im. 

“But hoi’ on!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to an 
expression of intense disappointment in the child’s face. “You 
des wait a minnit. Nex’ mawnin’, Brer Tarrypin take hisse’f off 
en waller in a mud-hole, en smear hisse’f wid mud twel he look 
des ’zackly lak a clod er dirt. Den he crawl off en lay down 
un’need a log whar he know Brer Fox come eve’y mawnin’ fer ter 
freshen 1 hisse’f. 

“Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en terreckly yer come Brer 
Fox. Time he git dar, Brer Fox ’gun ter lip backerds en forerds 
’cross de log, and Brer Tarrypin he crope nigher en nigher, twel 
bimeby he make a grab at Brer Fox en kotch him by de foot. 
Dey tells me,” continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his hands to¬ 
gether in token of great satisfaction, — “dey tells me dat w’en 
Brer Tarrypin ketch holt, hit got ter thunder ’fo’ he let go. All I 
know, Brer Tarrypin git Brer Fox by de foot, en he hilt ’im dar. 
Brer Fox he jump en he r’ar, but Brer Tarrypin done got ’im. 
Brer Fox, he holler out: — 

“‘Brer Tarrypin, please lemme go!’ 

“Brer Tarrypin talk way down in his th’oat: — 

“‘Gim’ my quills!’ 

“‘Lemme go en fetch um.’ 

“‘Gim’ my quills!’ 

“‘Do pray lemme go git um.’ 

“‘Gim’ my quills!’ 

“En, bless gracious! dis all Brer Fox kin git outer Brer Tarry¬ 
pin. Las’, Brer Fox foot hu’t ’im so bad dat he bleedz ter do 
sump’n’, en he sing out fer his ole ’oman fer ter fetch de quills, 
but he ole ’oman, she busy ’bout de house, en she don’t year ’im. 
Den he call he son, w’ich he name Tobe. He holler en bawl, en 
Tobe make answer: — 


1 Exercise himself. 
68 



V’T'* >41 

>||F i 

E ' 


iR 

*■111 



V /I JJfc 

i y \ y 

IF M 

? - • jH/ tg 

^ JSSp' v 



^ mS 

^ w. Jf J iflR 

artii «r i 


& 

. '/'jr \J> 


‘“BRER TARRYPIN, PLEASE LEMME GO!’” 













































L i 



















. 





















BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS 

“‘Tobe! O Tobe! You Tobe!’ 

“‘ W’at you want, daddy?’ 

“‘Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills.’ 

“‘W’at you say, daddy? Fetch de big tray ter git de honey 
in?’ 

“‘No, you crazy-head! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!’ 

“‘W’at you say, daddy? Fetch de dipper ter ketch de minners 
in?’ 

“ ‘ No, you fool! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills! ’ 

“‘W’at you say, daddy? Water done been spill?’ 

“Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w’ile ole Miss Fox year de 
racket, en den she lissen, en she know dat ’er ole man holler’n’ fer 
de quills, en she fotch um out en gun um ter Brer Tarrypin, en 
Brer Tarrypin, he let go he holt. He let go he holt,” Uncle 
Remus went on, “but long time atter dat, w’en Brer Fox go ter 
pay he calls, he hatter go hoppity-fetchity, hoppity-fetchity .” 

The old man folded his hands in his lap, and sat quietly gazing 
into the lightwood fire. Presently he said: — 

“I ’speck Miss Sally blessin’ us all right now, en fus’ news you 
know she’ll h’ist up en have Mars John a-trapesin’ down yer; en 
ef she do dat, den ter-morrer mawnin’ my brekkuss’ll be col’, en 
lakwise my dinner, en ef dey’s sump’n’ w’at I ’spizes hit’s col’ 
vittels.” 

Thereupon Uncle Remus arose, shook himself, peered out into 
the night to discover that the rain had nearly ceased, and then 
made ready to carry the little boy to his mother. Long before the 
chickens had crowed for midnight, the child, as well as the old 
man, had been transported to the land where myths and fables 
cease to be wonderful, — the land of pleasant dreams. 


69 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


XVI 

HOW BRER FOX FAILED TO GET HIS GRAPES 

One night the little boy failed to make his appearance at the 
accustomed hour, and the next morning the intelligence that the 
child was sick went forth from the “big house.” Uncle Remus 
was told that it had been necessary during the night to call in two 
physicians. When this information was imparted to the old man, 
there was an expression upon his countenance of awe not unmixed 
with indignation. He gave vent to the latter: — 

“Dar now! Two un um! W’en dat chile rize up, ef rize up he 
do, he’ll des nat’ally be a shadder. Yer I is, gwine on eighty year, 
en I ain’t tuck none er dat ar docter truck yit, ceppin’ it’s dish 
yer flas’ er poke-root w’at ole Miss Favers fix up fer de stiffness 
in my j’ints. Dey’ll come en dey’ll go, en dey’ll po’ in der jollup 
yer, en slap on der fly-plarster dar, en sprinkle der calomy yander, 
twel bimeby dat chile won’t look like hisse’f. Dat’s w’at! En 
mo’n dat, hit’s mighty kuse unter me dat ole folks kin go ’long 
en stan’ up ter de rack en gobble up der ’lowance, en yit chilluns 
is got ter be strucken down. Ef Miss Sally’ll des tu’n dem docter 
mens loose onter me, I lay I lick up der physic twel dey go off 
’stonish’d.” 

But no appeal of this nature was made to Uncle Remus. The 
illness of the little boy was severe, but not fatal. He took his 
medicine and improved, until finally even the doctors pronounced 
him convalescent. But he was very weak, and it was a fortnight 
before he was permitted to leave his bed. He was restless, and yet 
his term of imprisonment was full of pleasure. Every night after 
supper Uncle Remus would creep softly into the back piazza, 
place his hat carefully on the floor, rap gently on the door by way 
of announcement, and so pass into the nursery. How patient 
his vigils, how tender his ministrations, only the mother of the 

70 


BRER FOX AND THE GRAPES 

little boy knew; how comfortable and refreshing the change from 
the bed to the strong arms of Uncle Remus, only the little boy 
could say. 

Almost the first manifestation of the child’s convalescence was 
the renewal of his interest in the wonderful adventures of Brother 
Rabbit, Brother Fox, and the other brethren who flourished in 
that strange past over which this modern iEsop had thrown the 
veil of fable. “Miss Sally,” as Uncle Remus called the little 
boy’s mother, sitting in an adjoining room, heard the youngster 
pleading for a story, and after a while she heard the old man clear 
up his throat with a great affectation of formality and begin. 

“Dey ain’t skacely no p’int whar ole Brer Rabbit en ole 
Brer Fox made der ’greements side wid one er ’n’er; let ’lone 
dat, dey wuz one p’int ’twix’ ’um w’ich it wuz same ez fier en 
tow, en dat wuz Miss Meadows en de gals. Little ez you might 
’speck, dem same creeturs wuz bofe un um flyin’ ’roun’ Miss 
Meadows en de gals. Ole Brer Rabbit, he’d go dar, en dar he’d 
fine ole Brer Fox settin’ up gigglin’ wid de gals, en den he’d skuze 
hisse’f, he would, en gallop down de big road a piece, en paw 
up de san’ same lak dat ar ball-face steer w’at tuck’n tuck off 
yo’ pa’ coat-tail las’ Feberwary. En lakwise ole Brer Fox, he’d 
sa’nter in, en fine old man Rab. settin’ ’longside er de gals, en den 
he’d go out down de road en grab a ’simmon-bush in he mouf, en 
nat’ally gnyaw de bark off’n it. In dem days, honey,” continued 
Uncle Remus, responding to a look of perplexity on the child’s 
face, “creeturs wuz wuss dan w’at dey is now. Dey wuz dat — 
lots wuss. 

“Dey went on dis a-way twel, bimeby, Brer Rabbit ’gun ter 
cas’ ’roun’, he did, fer ter see ef he can’t bus’ inter some er Brer 
Fox ’rangerments, en, atter w’ile, one day w’en he wer’ settin’ 
down by de side er de road wukkin up de diffunt oggyment w’at 
strak pun he mine, en fixin’ up he tricks, des ’bout dat time he 
year a clatter up de long green lane, en yer come ole Brer Fox — 

71 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


toobookity — bookity — bookity-book — lopin’ ’long mo’ samer dan 
a bay colt in de bolly-patch. En he wuz all primp up, too, mon, 
en he look slick en shiny lak he des come outen de sto’. Ole man 
Rab., he sot dar, he did, en w’en ole Brer Fox come gallopin’ 
’long, Brer Rabbit, he up’n hail ’im. Brer Fox, he fotch up, en 
dey pass de time er day wid one er nudder monst’us perlite; en den, 
bimeby atter w’ile, Brer Rabbit, he up’n say, sezee, dat he got 
some mighty good news fer Brer Fox; en Brer Fox, he up’n ax 
’im w’at is it. Den Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch he year wid his 
behime foot en say, sezee: — 

“‘I wuz takin’ a walk day ’fo’ yistiddy,’ sezee, ‘w’en de fus’ 
news I know’d I run up gin de bigges’ en de fattes’ bunch er 
grapes dat I ever lay eyes on. Dey wuz dat fat en dat big,’ sezee, 
‘dat de natal juice wuz des drappin’ fum um, en de bees wuz a- 
swawmin’ atter de honey, en little ole Jack Sparrer en all er his 
fambly conneckshun wuz skeetin’ ’roun’ dar dippin’ in der bills,’ 
sezee. 

“Right den en dar,” Uncle Remus went on, “Brer Fox mouf 
’gun ter water, en he look outer he eye like he de bes’ frien’ w’at 
Brer Rabbit got in de roun’ worl’. He done fergit all ’bout de gals, 
en he sorter sidle up ter Brer Rabbit, he did, en he say, sezee: — 

“‘Come on, Brer Rabbit,’ sezee, ‘en less you ’n me go git dem 
ar grapes ’fo’ deyer all gone,’ sezee. En den ole Brer Rabbit, he 
laff, he did, en up’n ’spon’, sezee: — 

‘“I hungry myse’f, Brer Fox,’ sezee, ‘but I ain’t hankerin’ 
atter grapes, en I ’ll be in monst’us big luck ef I kin rush ’roun’ 
yer some’rs en scrape up a bait er pusley time nuff fer ter keep de 
breff in my body. En yit,’ sezee, ‘ ef you take’n rack off atter deze 
yer grapes, w’at Miss Meadows en de gals gwine do? I lay dey 
got yo’ name in de pot,’ sezee. 

“‘Ez ter dat,’ sez ole Brer Fox, sezee, ‘I kin drap ’roun’ en see 
de ladies atterwards,’ sezee. 

“‘Well, den, ef dat’s yo’ game,’ sez ole man Rab., sezee, ‘I kin 
72 


BRER FOX AND THE GRAPES 


squot right flat down yer on de groun’ en p’int out de way des de 
same ez leadin’ you dar by de han’,’ sezee; en den Brer Rabbit 
sorter chaw on he cud lak he gedder’n up his ’membunce, en he 
up’n say, sezee: — 

‘“You know dat ar place whar you went atter sweetgum fer 
Miss Meadows en de gals t’er day?’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox ’low dat he know dat ar place same ez he do he own 
tater-patch. 

“‘Well, den,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘de grapes ain’t dar. You 
git ter de sweetgum,’ sezee, ‘en den you go up de branch twel you 
come ter a little patch er bamboo brier—but de grapes ain’t dar. 
Den you follow yo’ lef’ han’ en strike ’cross de hill twel you come 
ter dat big red oak root — but de grapes ain’t dar. On you goes 
down de hill twel you come ter ’n’er branch, en on dat branch dars 
a dogwood-tree leanin’ ’way over, en nigh dat dogwood dars a 
vine, en in dat vine, dar you’ll fine yo’ grapes. Deyer dat ripe,’ 
sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘dat dey look like deyer done melt 
tergedder, en I speck you’ll fine um full er bugs, but you kin take 
dat fine bushy tail er yone, Brer Fox,’ sezee, ‘en bresh dem bugs 
away.’ 

“Brer Fox ’low he much ’blige, en den he put out atter de grapes 
in a han’-gallop, en w’en he done got outer sight, en likewise 
outer year’n, Brer Rabbit, he take’n git a blade er grass, he did, 
en tickle hisse’f in de year, en den he holler en laff, en laff en holler, 
twel he hatter lay down fer ter git he breff back ’gin. 

“Den, atter so long time, Brer Rabbit he jump up, he do, en 
take atter Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he ain’t look ter de right ner de 
lef’, en needer do he look behime; he des keep a-rackin’ ’long twel 
he come ter de sweetgum-tree, en den he tu’n up de branch twel 
he come ter de bamboo brier, en den he tu’n squar ter de lef’ 
twel he come ter de big red-oak root, en den he keep on down he 
hill twel he come ter de yuther branch, en dar he see de dogwood; 
en mo’n dat, dar nigh de dogwood he see de vine, en in dat vine 

73 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

dar wuz de big bunch er grapes. Sho’ nuff, dey wuz all kiwud wid 
bugs. 

“Ole Brer Rabbit, he’d bin a-pushin’ ’long atter Brer Fox, but 
he des hatter scratch gravel fer ter keep up. Las’ he hove in sight, 
en he lay off in de weeds, he did, fer ter watch Brer Fox motions. 
Present’y Brer Fox crope up de leanin’ dogwood-tree twel he 
come nigh de grapes, en den he sorter ballunce hisse’f on a lim’ 
en gun um a swipe wid his big bushy tail, fer ter bresh off de bugs. 
But, bless yo’ soul, honey! no sooner is he done dat dan he fetch a 
squall w’ich Miss Meadows vow atterwards she year plum ter her 
house, en down he come — kerblim! ” 

“What was the matter, Uncle Remus?” the little boy asked. * 
“Law, honey! dat seetful Brer Rabbit done fool ole Brer Fox. 
Dem ar grapes all so fine wuz needer mo’ ner less dan a great big 
was’-nes’, en dem bugs wuz deze yer red wassies — deze yer speeshy 
w’at’s rank pizen fum een’ ter een’. W’en Brer Fox drap fum de 
tree de wassies dey drap wid ’im, en de way dey worn ole Brer Fox 
up wuz sinful. Dey ain’t mo’n tetch’ im ’fo’ dey had ’im het up ter 
de bailin’ p’int. Brer Fox, he run, en he kick, en he scratch, en he 
bite, en he scramble, en he holler, en he howl, but look lak dey git 
wuss en wuss. One time, hit seem lak Brer Fox en his new ’quaint- 
ance wuz makin’ todes Brer Rabbit, but dey ain’t no sooner p’int 
dat way, dan ole Brer Rabbit, he up’n make a break, en he went 
sailin’ thoo de woods wuss’n wunner dese whully-win’s, en he ain’t 
stop twel he fetch up at Miss Meadows. 

“Miss Meadows en de gals, dey ax ’im, dey did, wharbouts 
wuz Brer Fox, en Brer Rabbit, he up’n ’spon’ dat he done gone 
a-grape-huntin’, en den Miss Meadows, she ’low, she did: — 
“‘Law, gals! is you ever year de beat er dat? En dat, too, w’en 
Brer Fox done say he cornin’ ter dinner,’ sez she. ‘ I lay I done wid 
Brer Fox, kaze you can’t put no pennunce in deze yer men-folks,’ 
sez she. ‘Yer de dinner bin done dis long time, en we bin a-waitin’ 
lak de quality. But now I’m done wid Brer Fox,’ sez she. 

74 


BRER FOX AS AN INCENDIARY 


“Wid dat, Miss Meadows en de gals dey ax Brer Rabbit fer 
ter stay ter dinner, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter make like he wanter 
be skuze, but bimeby he tuck a cheer en sot um out. He tuck a 
cheer,” continued Uncle Remus, “en he ain’t bin dar long twel he 
look out en spy ole Brer Fox gwine ’long by, en w’at do Brer 
Rabbit do but call Miss Meadows en de gals en p’int ’im out? 
Soon’s dey seed ’im dey sot up a monst’us gigglement, kaze Brer 
Fox wuz dat swell up twel little mo’n he’d a bus’. He head wuz 
swell up, en down ter he legs, dey wuz swell up. Miss Meadows, 
she up’n say dat Brer Fox look like he done gone en got all de 
grapes dey wuz in de neighborhoods, en one er de yuther gals, she 
squeal, she did, en say: — 

“‘Law, ain’t you ’shame’, en right yer ’fo’ Brer Rabbit!’ 

“En den dey hilt der han’s ’fo’ der face en giggle des like gals 
duz deze days.” 


XVII 

BRER FOX FIGURES AS AN INCENDIARY 

The next night the little boy had been thoughtful enough to 
save some of his supper for Uncle Remus, and to this “Miss 
Sally” had added, on her own account, a large piece of fruit-cake. 
The old man appeared to be highly pleased. 

“Ef ders enny kinder cake w’at I likes de mos’, hit’s dish yer 
kine w’at’s got reezins strowed ’mongs’ it. Wid sick folks, now,” 
he continued, holding up the cake and subjecting it to a critical 
examination, “dish yer hunk ’ud mighty nigh las’ a mont’, but 
wid a well man lak I is, hit won’t las’ a minnit.” 

And it did n’t. It disappeared so suddenly that the little boy 
laughed aloud, and wanted Uncle Remus to have some more 
cake; but the latter protested that he did n’t come there “fer ter 
git founder’d,” but merely to see “ef somebody’s strenk uz strong 

75 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

’nuff fer ter stan’ ’n’er tale.” The little boy said if Uncle Remus 
meant him, he was sure his health was good enough to listen to 
any number of stories. Whereupon, the old man, without any 
tantalizing preliminaries, began: — 

“Brer Fox done bin fool so much by Brer Rabbit dat he sorter 
look ’roun’ fer ter see ef he can’t ketch up wid some er de yuther 
creeturs, en so, one day, w’iles he gwine long down de big road, 
who should he strak up wid but old Brer Tarrypin. Brer Fox sorter 
lick his chops, en ’low dat ef he kin fling ennybody en gin um all- 
under holt, Brer Tarrypin de man, en he march up, mighty big- 
gity, like he gwine ter make spote un ’im. W’en he git up nigh 
’nuff, Brer Fox hail ’im: — 

“‘How you ’speck you fine yo’se’f dis mawnin’, Brer Tarry¬ 
pin?’ sezee. 

“‘Slow, Brer Fox — mighty slow,’sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. 
‘Day in en day out I’m mighty slow, en it look lak I’m a-gittin’ 
slower; I’m slow en po’ly, Brer Fox — how you come on?’ 
sezee. 

“‘Oh, I’m slanchindickler, same ez I allers is,’ sez Brer Fox, 
sezee. ‘W’at make yo’ eye so red, Brer Tarrypin?’ sezee. 

“‘Hit’s all ’longer de trouble I see, Brer Fox,’ sez Brer Tarry¬ 
pin, sezee. ‘I see trouble en you see none; trouble come en pile up 
on trouble,’ sezee. 

“‘Law, Brer Tarrypin!’ sez Brer Fox, sezee, ‘you ain’t see no 
trouble yit. Ef you wanter see sho’ ’nuff trouble, you des oughter 
go ’longer me; I’m de man w’at kin show you trouble,’ sezee. 

“‘Well, den,’ sez ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee, ‘ef youer de man 
w’at kin show me trouble, den I’m de man w’at want a glimpse 
un it,’ sezee. 

“Den Brer Fox, he ax Brer Tarrypin is he seed de Ole Boy, en 
den Brer Tarrypin, he make answer dat he ain’t seed ’im yit, but 
he year tell un ’im. Wid dat, Brer Fox ’low de Ole Boy de kinder 
trouble he bin talkin’ ’bout, en den Brer Tarrypin, he up’n ax how 

76 


BRER FOX AS AN INCENDIARY 

he gwine see ’im. Brer Fox, he tak’n lay out de pogrance, en he 
up’n tell BrerTarrypin dat ef he’ll step up dar in de middle er 
dat ole broom-sage fiel’, en squot dar a spell, ’t won’t be no time 
’fo’ he’ll ketch a glimpse er de Ole Boy. 

“Brer Tarrypin know’d ders sump’n’ wrong some’rs, yit he 
mos’ too flat-flooted fer ter have enny scuffle wid Brer Fox, en 
he say ter hisse’f dat he’ll go ’long en des trus’ ter luck; en den he 
’low dat ef Brer Fox he’p ’im ’cross de fence, he b’lieve he’ll go up 
en resk one eye on de Ole Boy. Co’se Brer Fox hope ’im ’cross, en 
no sooner is he good en gone, dan Brer Fox, he fix up fer ter make 
’im see trouble. He lipt out ter Miss Meadows house, Brer Fox 
did, en make like he wanter borry a chunk er fier fer ter light he 
pipe, en he tuck dat chunk, en he run ’roun’ de fiel’, en he sot de 
grass a fier, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ it look lak de whole face er de 
yeth waz a-blazin’ up.” 

“Did it burn the Terrapin up?” interrupted the little boy. 

“Don’t push me, honey; don’t make me git de kyart ’fo’ de 
hoss. W’en ole Brer Tarrypin ’gun ter wade thoo de straw, de 
ve’y fus’ man w’at he strak up wid wuz ole man Rabbit layin’ dar 
sleepin’ on de shady side uv a tussock. Brer Rabbit, he one er 
deze yer kinder mens w’at sleep wid der eye wide open, en he wuz 
’wake d’reckly he year Brer Tarrypin scufflin’ en scramblin’ ’long 
thoo de grass. Atter dey shuck han’s en ax ’bout one er n’er 
fambly, hit ain’t take long fer Brer Tarrypin fer ter tell Brer 
Rabbit w’at fotch ’im dar, en Brer Rabbit, he up’n say, 
sezee:— 

“‘Hit’s des na’tally a born blessin’ dat you struck up wid me 
w’en you did,’ sezee, ‘kaze little mo’ en bofe un us would ’a’ bin 
bobbycu’d,’ sezee. 

“Dis kinder tarrify Brer Tarrypin, en he say he wanter git out 
fum dar; but Brer Rabbit he ’low he’d take keer un ’im, en he 
tuck’n tuck Brer Tarrypin in de middle er de fiel’ whar dey wuz 
a big holler stump. Onter dis stump Brer Rabbit lif’ Brer Tarry- 

77 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

pin, en den he lip up hisse’f en crope in de holler, en, bless yo* 
soul, honey, w’en de fier come a-snippin’ en a-snappin’, dar dey 
sot des ez safe en ez snug ez you iz in yo’ bed dis minnit. 

“ W’en de blaze blow over, Brer Tarrypin look ’roun’, en he see 
Brer Fox runnin’ up’n down de fence lak he huntin’ sump’n’. Den 
Brer Rabbit, he stick he head up outen de hole, en likewise he 
seed ’im, and den he holler like Brer Tarrypin” (Here Uncle 
Remus puckered his voice, so to say, in a most amusing squeak): 

“‘Brer Fox! Brer Fox! 0 Brer Fox! Run yer — we done kotch 
Brer Rabbit!’ 

“En den Brer Fox, he jump up on de top rail er de fence en 
fetch a spring dat lan’ ’im ’way out in de bu’nin’ grass, en it 
hurted ’im en sting ’im in de footses dat bad, dat he squeal en he 
roll, en de mo’ he roll de wuss it bu’n him, en Brer Rabbit en Brer 
Tarrypin dey des holler en laff. Bimeby Brer Fox git out, en off 
he put down de road, limpin’ fus’ on one foot en den on de 
yuther.” 

The little boy laughed, and then there was a long silence — 
so long, indeed, that Uncle Remus’s “Miss Sally,” sewing in the 
next room, concluded to investigate it. An exceedingly interesting 
tableau met her sight. The little child had wandered into the land 
of dreams with a smile on his face. He lay with one of his little 
hands buried in both of Uncle Remus’s, while the old man himself 
was fast asleep, with his head thrown back and his mouth wide 
open. “Miss Sally” shook him by the shoulder and held up her 
finger to prevent him from speaking. He was quiet until she held 
the lamp for him to get down the back steps, and then she heard 
him say, in an indignantly mortified tone: — 

“Now den, Miss Sally’ll be a-riggin’ me ’bout noddin’, but 
stidder dat she better be glad dat I ain’t bus loose en sno’ en ’larm 
de house — let ’lone dat sick baby. Dat’s w’at!” 


78 


A DREAM AND A STORY 


XVIII 

A DREAM AND A STORY 

“I dreamed all about Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit last night, 
Uncle Remus/ 5 exclaimed the little boy when the old man came 
in after supper and took his seat by the side of the trundle-bed; 
“I dreamed that Brother Fox had wings and tried to catch 
Brother Rabbit by flying after him. 55 

“I don’t ’spute it, honey, dat I don’t! 55 replied the old man, in 
a tone which implied that he was quite prepared to believe the 
dream itself was true. “Manys en manys de time, deze long 
nights en deze rainy spells, dat I sets down dar in my house over 
ag’in de chimbley-jam — I sets dar en I dozes, en it seem lak dat 
ole Brer Rabbit, he’ll stick he head in de crack er de do 5 en see 
my eye periently shot, en den he’ll beckon back at de yuther 
creeturs, en den dey ’ll all come slippin 5 in on der tip-toes, en dey ’ll 
set dar en run over de ole times wid one er n’er, en crack der jokes 
same ez dey useter. En den ag’in,” continued the old man, shut¬ 
ting his eyes and giving to his voice a gruesome intonation quite 
impossible to describe, — “en den ag’in hit look lak dat Brer 
Rabbit’ll gin de wink all ’roun 5 , en den dey’ll tu’n in en git up 
a reg’lar juberlee. Brer Rabbit, he’ll retch up en take down de 
trivet, en Brer Fox, he’ll snatch up de griddle, en Brer B’ar, he’ll 
lay holt er de pot-hooks, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he ’ll grab up de fry- 
in’ pan en dar dey’ll have it, up en down, en’ roun’ en ’roun’. Hit 
seem like ter me dat ef I kin git my mine smoove down en ketch up 
some er dem ar chunes w’at dey sets dar en plays, den I’d lean 
back yer in dish yer cheer en I’d intrance you wid um, twel, by dis 
time termorrer night, you’d be settin’ up dar at de supper-table 
’sputin’ ’longer yo’ little brer ’bout de ’lasses pitcher. Dem 
creeturs dey sets dar,” Uncle Remus went on, “en dey plays dem 
kinder chunes w’at moves you fum ’way back yander; en manys 

79 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

de time w’en I gits lonesome kaze dey ain’t nobody year um 
’eeppin’ it’s me. Dey ain’t no tellin’ de chunes dey is in dat trivet, 
en in dat griddle, en in dat fryin’-pan er mine; dat dey ain’t. 
W’en dem creeturs walks in en snatches um down, dey lays Miss 
Sally’s pianner in de shade, en Mars John’s flute, hit ain’t no- 
whars.” 

“Do they play on them just like a band, Uncle Remus?” in¬ 
quired the little boy, who was secretly in hopes that the illusion 
would not be destroyed. 

“Dey comes des lak I tell you, honey. W’en I shets my eyes 
en dozes, dey comes en dey plays, but w’en I opens my eyes dey 
ain’t dar. Now, den, w’en dat’s de shape er marters, w’at duz I 
do? I des shets my eyes en hoi’ um shot, en let um come en play 
dem ole time chunes twel long atter bed-time done come en 
gone.” 

Uncle Remus paused, as though he expected the little boy to 
ask some question or make some comment, but the child said 
nothing, and presently the old man resumed, in a matter-of-fact 
tone: — 

“Dat dream er yone, honey, ’bout Brer Fox wid wings, fetches 
up de time w’en Brer Fox en Brer Wolf had der failin’ out wid one 
er n’er — but I ’speck I done tole you ’bout dat.” 

“ Oh, no, you have n’t, Uncle Remus! You know you have n’t! ” 
the little boy exclaimed. 

“Well, den, one day, atter so long a time, Brer Wolf en Brer 
Fox dey got ter ’sputin’ ’longer one er n’er. Brer Wolf, he tuck’n 
’buse Brer Fox kaze Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool ’im, en den 
Brer Fox, he tuck’n quol back at Brer Wolf, kaze Brer Wolf 
let ole man Rabbit lakwise fool ’im. Dey keep on ’sputin’ en 
’sputin’, twel bimeby dey clinch, en Brer Wolf, bein’ de bigges’ 
man, ’t would n’t a bin long ’fo’ he’d a wool Brer Fox, but Brer 
Fox, he watch he chance, he did, en he gin ’im leg bail.” 

“Gave him what, Uncle Remus?” 

80 


A DREAM AND A STORY 


“Gin ’im leg bail, honey. He juk loose fum Brer Wolf, Brer 
Fox did, en, gentermens, he des mosey thoo de woods. Brer Wolf, 
he tuck atter ’m, he did, en dar dey had it, en Brer Wolf push 
Brer Fox so close, dat de onliest way Brer Fox kin save he hide is 
ter fine a hole some’rs, en de fus’ holler tree dat he come 'cross, 
inter it he dove. Brer Wolf fetcht a grab at ’im, but he wuz des 
in time fer ter be too late. 

“Den Brer Wolf, he sot dar, he did, en he study en study how 
he gwine git Brer Fox out, en Brer Fox, he lay in dar, he did, en 
he study en study w’at Brer Wolf gwine do. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, 
he tuck’n gedder up a whole lot er chunks, en rocks, en sticks, en 
den he tuck’n fill up de hole what Brer Fox went in so Brer Fox 
can’t git out. W’iles dis wuz gwine on, ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, 
he wuz sailin’ ’roun’ ’way up in de elements, wid he eye peel fer 
bizness, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he glance lit on Brer Wolf, en he ’low 
ter hisse’f, sezee: — 

“‘I’ll des sorter flop down,’ sezee, ‘en look inter dis, kaze ef 
Brer Wolf hidin’ he dinner dar wid de expeck’shun er findin’ it 
dar w’en he come back, den he done gone en put it in de wrong 
place,’ sezee. 

“Wid dat ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he flop down en sail ’roun’ 
nigher, en he soon see dat Brer Wolf ain’t hidin’ no dinner. Den 
he flop down furder, ole Brer Buzzud did, twel he lit on de top er 
de holler tree. Brer Wolf, he done kotch a glimpse er ole Brer 
Buzzud shadder, but he keep on puttin’ chunks en rocks in de 
holler. Den, present’y, Brer Buzzud, he open up: — 

“‘W’at you doin’ dar, Brer Wolf?’ 

“‘Makin’ a toom-stone, Brer Buzzud.’ 

“Co’se Brer Buzzud sorter feel like he got intruss in marters 
like dis, en he holler back: — 

“‘Who dead now, Brer Wolf?’ 

“‘Wunner yo’ ’quaintance, w’ich he name Brer Fox, Brer 
Buzzud.’ 


81 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“‘ W’en he die, Brer Wolf?’ 

“‘He ain’t dead yit, but he won’t las’ long in yer, Brer Buz- 
zud.’ 

“Brer Wolf, he keep on, he did, twel he done stop up de hole 
good, en den he bresh de trash off’n his cloze, en put out fer home. 
Brer Tukky Buzzud, he sot up dar, he did, en ontankle his tail 
fedders, en lissen en lissen, but Brer Fox, he keep dark, en Brer 
Buzzud ain’t year nuthin’. Den Brer Buzzud, he flop he wings 
en sail away. 

“Bimeby, nex’ day, bright en early, yer he come back, en he 
sail all ’roun’ en ’roun’ de tree, but Brer Fox he lay low en keep 
dark, en Brer Buzzud ain’t year nuthin’. Atter w’ile, Brer 
Buzzud he sail ’roun’ ag’in, en dis time he sing, en de song w’at 
he sing is dish yer: — 

Ui Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-bo, 

Man out yer wid news fer you !* 

Den he sail all ’roun’ en ’roun’ n’er time en listen, en bimeby he 
year Brer Fox sing back: — 

*“Go ’way, go ’way, my little jug er beer, 

De news you bring, 1 yeard las’ year’ ’* 

■ “Beer, Uncle Remus? What kind of beer did they have then? ” 

the little boy inquired. 

“Now, den, honey, youer gittin’ me up in a close cornder,” 
responded the old man, in an unusually serious tone. “Beer is de 
way de tale runs, but w’at kinder beer it moughter bin ain’t come 
down ter me — en yit hit seem lak I year talk some’rs dat dish 
yer beer wuz mos’ prins’ply ’simmon beer.” 

This seemed to satisfy the small but exacting audience, and 
Uncle Remus continued: — 

“So, den, w’en Brer Buzzud year Brer Fox sing back, he ’low 
he ain’t dead, en wid dat, Brer Buzzud, he sail off en ’ten’ ter he 
t yuther business. Nex’ day back he come, en Brer Fox, he sing 

82 


THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND 

back, he did, des ez lively ez a cricket in de ashes, en it keep on dis 
way twel Brer Fox stomach ’gun ter pinch him, en den he know 
dat he gotter study up some kinder plans fer ter git out fum dar. 
N’er day pass, en Brer Fox, he tuck’n lay low, en it keep on dat 
a-way twel hit look like ter Brer Fox, pent up in dar, he mus’ 
sholy pe’sh. Las’, one day Brer Buzzud come sailin’ all ’roun’ en 
’roun’ wid dat 

“'Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo* 

but Brer Fox, he keep dark en Brer Buzzud, he tuck’n spishun 
dat Brer Fox wuz done dead. Brer Buzzud, he keep on singin’, 
en Brer Fox he keep on lay in’ low, twel bimeby Brer Buzzud lit 
en ’gun ter cle’r ’way de trash en truck fum de holler. He hop up, 
he did, en tuck out one chunk, en den he hop back en lissen, but 
Brer Fox stay still. Den Brer Buzzud hop up en tuck out n’er 
chunk, en den hop back en lissen, en all dis time Brer Fox mouf 
’uz waterin’ w’iles he lay back in dar en des nat’ally honed atter 
Brer Buzzud. Hit went on dis a-way, twel des ’fo’ he got de hole 
unkivvud, Brer Fox, he break out he did, en grab Brer Buzzud by 
de back er de neck. Dey wuz a kinder scuffle ’mongs’ um, but’t 
wa’n’t fer long, en dat wuz de las’ er ole Brer Tukky Buzzud.” 

XIX 

THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND 

One night when the little boy made his usual visit to Uncle 
Remus, he found the old man sitting up in his chair fast asleep. 
The child said nothing. He was prepared to exercise a good deal of 
patience upon occasion, and the occasion was when he wanted 
to hear a story. But, in making himself comfortable, he aroused 
Uncle Remus from his nap. 

i “I let you know, honey,” said the old man, adjusting his 
spectacles, and laughing rather sheepishly, — “I let you know, 

83 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

honey, w’en I gits my head r’ar’d back dat a-way, en my eyeleds 
shot, en my mouf open, en my chin pantin’ at de rafters, den dey’s 
some mighty quare gwines on in my min’. Dey is dat, des ez sho’ 
ez youer settin’ dar. W’en I fus’ year you cornin’ down de paf,” 
Uncle Remus continued, rubbing his beard thoughtfully, “I ’uz 
sorter fear’d you mought ’spicion dat I done gone off on my jour¬ 
neys fer ter see ole man Nod.” 

This was accompanied by a glance of inquiry, to which the 
little boy thought it best to respond. 

“ Well, Uncle Remus,” he said, “ I did think I heard you snoring 
when I came in.” 

“Now you see dat!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of 
grieved astonishment; “you see dat! Man can’t leanhisse’f ’pun 
his ’membunce, ’ceppin’ dey’s some un fer ter come high-primin’ 
’roun’ en ’lowin’ dat he done gone ter sleep. Shoo! W’en you stept 
in dat do’ dar I ’uz right in ’mungs some mighty quare notions — 
mighty quare notions. Dey ain’t no two ways; ef I uz ter up 
en let on ’bout all de notions w’at I gits in ’mungs, folks ’ud hat¬ 
ter come en kyar me off ter de place whar dey puts ’stracted 
people. 

“Atter I sop up my supper,” Uncle Remus went on, “I tuck’n 
year some flutterments up dar ’mungs de rafters, en I look up, en 
dar wuz a Bat sailin’ ’roun’. ’Roun’ en ’roun’, en ’roun’ she go — 
und’ de rafters, ’bove de rafters — en ez she sail she make noise 
lak she grittin’ ’er toofies. Now, w’at dat Bat atter, I be bless ef 
I kin tell you, but dar she wuz; ’roun’ en ’roun’, over en under. 
I ax ’er w’at do she want up dar, but she ain’t got no time fer ter 
tell; ’roun’ en ’roun’, en over en under. En bimeby, out she flip, 
en I boun’ she grittin’ ’er toofies en gwine ’roun’ en ’roun’ out dar, 
en dodgin’ en flippin’ des lak de elements wuz full er rafters en 
cobwebs. 

“W’en she flip out I le’nt my head back, I did, en’t wa’n’t no 
time ’fo’ I git mix up wid my notions. Dat Bat wings so limber 

84 


THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND 


en ’er will so good dat she done done ’er day’s work dar ’fo’ you 
could ’er run ter de big house en back. De Bat put me in min’ 
er folks,” continued Uncle Remus, settling himself back in his 
chair, “en folks put me in min’ er de creeturs.” 

Immediately the little boy was all attention. 

“Dey wuz times,” said the old man, with something like a 
sigh, “w’en de creeturs ’ud segashuate tergedder des like dey 
ain’t had no failin’ out. Dem wuz de times w’en ole Brer Rabbit 
’ud ’ten ’lak he gwine quit he ’havishness, en dey’d all go ’roun’ 
des lak dey b’long ter de same fambly connexion. 

“One time atter dey bin gwine in cohoots dis a-way, Brer 
Rabbit ’gun ter feel his fat, he did, en dis make ’im git projecky 
terreckly. De mo’ peace w’at dey had, de mo’ wuss Brer Rabbit 
feel, twel bimeby he git restless in de min’. W’en de sun shine he’d 
go en lay off in de grass en kick at de gnats, en nibble at de mullen 
stalk en waller in de san’. One night atter supper, w’iles he ’uz 
romancin’ ’roun’, he run up wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en atter dey 
shuck han’s dey sot down on de side er de road en run on ’bout ole 
times. Dey talk en dey talk, dey did, en bimeby Brer Rabbit say 
it done come ter dat pass whar he bleedz ter have some fun, en 
Brer Tarrypin ’low dat Brer Rabbit des de ve’y man he bin 
lookin’ fer. 

“‘Well den,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘we’ll des put Brer Fox, 
en Brer Wolf, en Brer B’ar on notice, en termorrer night we’ll 
meet down by de mill-pon’ en have a little fishin’ frolic. I ’ll do 
de talkin’,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘en you kin set back en say 
yea ,’ sezee. 

“Brer Tarrypin laugh. 

“‘Ef I ain’t dar,’ sezee, ‘den you may know de grasshopper 
done fly ’way wid me,’ sezee. 

“ ‘En you neenter bring no fiddle, n’er,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 
‘kaze dey ain’t gwineter be no dancin’ dar,’ sezee. 

“Wid dat,” continued Uncle Remus, “Brer Rabbit put out fer 

85 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

home, en went ter bed, en Brer Tarrypin bruise ’roun’ en make 
his way todes de place so he kin be dar ’gin de ’p’inted time. 

“Nex’ day Brer Rabbit sont wud ter de yuther creeturs, en dey 
all make great ’miration, kaze dey ain’t think ’bout dis deyse’f. 
Brer Fox, he ’low, he did, dat he gwine atter Miss Meadows en 
Miss Motts, en de yuther gals. 

“Sho’ nuff, w’en de time come dey wuz all dar. Brer B’ar, he 
fotch a hook en line; Brer Wolf, he fotch a hook en line; Brer 
Fox, he fotch a dip-net, en Brer Tarrypin, not ter be outdone, he 
fotch de bait.” 

“What did Miss Meadows and Miss Motts bring?” the little 
boy asked. 

Uncle Remus dropped his head slightly to one side, and looked 
over his spectacles at the little boy. 

“Miss Meadows en Miss Motts,” he continued, “dey tuck’n 
stan’ way back fum de aidge er de pon’ en squeal eve’y time Brer 
Tarrypin shuck de box er bait at um. Brer B’ar ’low he gwine 
ter fish fer mud-cats; Brer Wolf ’low he gwine ter fish fer horney- 
heads; Brer Fox ’low he gwine ter fish fer peerch fer de ladies; 
Brer Tarrypin ’low he gwine ter fish fer minners, en Brer Rabbit 
wink at Brer Tarrypin en ’low he gwine ter fish fer suckers. 

“Dey all git ready, dey did, en Brer Rabbit march up ter de 
pon’ en make fer ter th’ow he hook in de water, but des ’bout dat 
time hit seem lak he see sump’n’. De t’er creeturs, dey stop en 
watch his motions. Brer Rabbit, he drap he pole, he did, en he 
stan’ dar scratchin’ he head en lookin’ down in de water. 

“De gals dey ’gun ter git oneasy w’en dey see dis, en Miss 
Meadows, she up en holler out, she did: — 

1 “‘Law, Brer Rabbit, w’at de name er goodness de marter in 
dar? 5 

“Brer Rabbit scratch he head en look in de water. Miss Motts, 
she hilt up ’er petticoats, she did, en ’low she monst’us fear’d er 
snakes. Brer Rabbit keep on scratchin’ en lookin’. 

86 


THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND 

“Bimeby he fetch a long bref, he did, en he ’low: — 

“‘Ladies en gentermuns all, we des might ez well make tracks 
fum dish yer place, kaze dey ain’t no fishin’ in dat pon’ fer none 
er dish yer crowd.’ 

“ Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin, he scramble up ter de aidge en look 
over, en he shake he head, en ’low: — 

“‘Tooby sho’—tooby sho’! Tut-tut-tut! ’ en den he crawl 
back, he did, en do lak he wukkin’ he min’. 

“‘Don’t be skeert, ladies, kaze we er boun’ ter take keer un 
you, let come w’at will, let go w’at mus’,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 
‘Accidents got ter happen unter we all, des same ez dey is unter 
yuther folks; en dey ain’t nuthin’ much de marter, ’ceppin’ dat de 
Moon done drap in de water. Ef you don’t b’leeve me you kin 
look fer yo’se’f,’ sezee. 

“Wid dat dey all went ter de bank en lookt in; en, sho’ nuff, 
dar lay de Moon, a-swingin’ an’ a-swayin’ at de bottom er de 

^ 9 99 

pon . 

The little boy laughed. He had often seen the reflection of the 
sky in shallow pools of water, and the startling depths that seemed 
to lie at his feet had caused him to draw back with a shudder. 

“Brer Fox, he look in, he did, en he ’low, ‘Well, well, well!’ 
Brer Wolf, he look in, en he ’low, ‘Mighty bad, mighty bad!’ 
Brer B’ar, he look in, en he ’low, ‘Turn, turn, turn!’ De ladies dey 
look in, en Miss Meadows she squall out, ‘Ain’t dat too much?’ 
Brer Rabbit, he look in ag’in, en he up en ’low, he did: — 

“‘Ladies en gentermuns, you all kin hum en haw, but less’n 
we gits dat Moon out er de pon’, dey ain’t no fish kin be ketch 
’roun’ yer dis night; en ef you’ll ax Brer Tarrypin, he’ll tell you 
de same.’ 

“Den dey ax how kin dey git de Moon out er dar, den Brer 
Tarrypin ’low dey better lef’ dat wid Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit 
he shot he eyes, he did, en make lak he wukkin’ he min’. Bimeby, 
he up’n ’low: — 


87 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“ ‘De nighes’ way out’n dish yer diffikil is fer ter sen’ ’roun’ yer 
to ole Mr. Mud-Turkle en borry his sane, en drag dat Moon up 
fum dar,’ sezee. 

“‘I ’clar’ ter gracious I mighty glad you mention dat/ says 
Brer Tarrypin, sezee. ‘Mr. Mud-Turkle is setch clos’t kin ter me 
dat I calls ’im Unk Muck, en I lay ef you sen’ dar atter dat sane 
you won’t fine Unk Muck so mighty disaccomerdatin’.’ 

“Well/ 5 continued Uncle Remus, after one of his tantalizing 
pauses, “dey sont atter de sane, en w’iles Brer Rabbit wuz gone. 
Brer Tarrypin, he ’low dat he done year tell time en time ag’in 
dat dem w’at fine de Moon in de water en fetch ’im out, lakwise 
dey ull fetch out a pot er money. Dis make Brer Fox, en Brer 
Wolf, en Brer B’ar feel mighty good, en dey ’low, dey did, dat 
long ez Brer Rabbit been so good ez ter run atter de sane, dey ull 
do de sanein\ 

“Time Brer Rabbit git back, he see how de Ian’ lay, en he make 
lak he wanter go in atter de Moon. He pull off he coat, en he ’uz 
fixin’ fer ter shuck he wescut, but de yuther creeturs dey ’low dey 
wa’n’t gwine ter let dryfoot man lak Brer Rabbit go in de water. 
So Brer Fox, he tuck holt er one staff er de sane, Brer Wolf he 
tuck holt er de yuther staff, en Brer B’ar he wade ’long behime 
fer ter lif’ de sane ’cross logs en snags. 

“Dey make one haul — no Moon; n’er haul — no Moon; n’er 
haul — no Moon. Den bimeby dey git out furder fum de bank. 
Water run in Brer Fox year, he shake he head; water run in Brer 
Wolf year, he shake he head; water run in Brer B’ar year, he 
shake he head. En de fus’ news you know, w’iles dey wuz 
a-shakin’, dey come to whar de bottom shelfed off. Brer Fox he 
step off en duck hisse’f; den Brer Wolf duck hisse’f; en Brer B’ar 
he make a splunge en duck hisse’f; en, bless gracious, dey kick en 
splatter twel it look lak dey ’uz gwine ter slosh all de water outer 
de mill-pon’. 

“W’en dey come out, de gals ’uz all a-snickerin’ en a-gigglin’, 
88 


BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE 

en dey well mought, ’kaze go whar you would, dey wa’n’t no wuss 
lookin’ creeturs dan dem; en Brer Rabbit, he holler, sezee: — 

“ ‘I ’speck you all, gents, better go home en git some dry duds, 
en n’er time we’ll be in better luck,’ sezee. ‘I hear talk dat de 
Moon’ll bite at a hook ef you take fools fer baits, en I lay dat’s 
de onliest way fer ter ketch ’er,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox en Brer Wolf en Brer B’ar went drippin’ off, en Brer 
Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin, dey went home wid de gals.” 


XX 

BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE 

One night while the little boy was sitting in Uncle Remus’s 
cabin, waiting for the old man to finish his hoe-cake, and refresh 
his memory as to the further adventures of Brother Rabbit, his 
friends and his enemies, something dropped upon the top of the 
house with a noise like the crack of a pistol. The little boy jumped, 
but Uncle Remus looked up and-exclaimed, “Ah-yi!” in a tone of 
triumph. 

“What was that, Uncle Remus?” the child asked, after waiting 
a moment to see what else would happen. 

“News fum Jack Fros’, honey. W’en dat hick’y-nut tree out 
dar year ’im cornin’ she ’gins ter drap w’at she got. I mighty 
glad,” he continued, scraping the burnt crust from his hoe-cake 
with an old case-knife, “I mighty glad hick’y-nuts ain’t big en 
heavy ez grinestones.” 

He waited a moment to see what effect this queer statement 
would have on the child. 

“Yasser, I mighty glad — dat I is. ’Kaze ef hick’y-nuts ’uz 
big ez grinestones dish yer ole callyboose ’ud be a-leakin’ long ’fo’ 
Chris’mus.” 

Just then another hickory-nut dropped upon the roof, and the 
89 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

little boy jumped again. This seemed to amuse Uncle Remus, and 
he laughed until he was near to choking himself with his smoking 
hoe-cake. 

“You does des ’zackly lak ole Brer Rabbit done, I ’clar’ to 
gracious ef you don’t!” the old man cried, as soon as he could get 
his breath; “dez zackly fer de worl\” 

The child was immensely flattered, and at once he wanted to 
know how Brother Rabbit did. Uncle Remus was in such good 
humor that he needed no coaxing. He pushed his spectacles back 
on his forehead, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and began: — 

“Hit come ’bout dat soon one mawnin’ todes de fall er de year, 
Brer Rabbit wuz stirrin’ ’roun’ in de woods atter some bergamot 
fer ter make ’im some h’ar-grease. De win’ blow so col’ dat it 
make ’im feel right frisky, en eve’y time he year de bushes rattle 
he make lak he skeerd. He ’uz gwine on dis a-way, hoppity- 
skippity, w’en bimeby he year Mr. Man cuttin’ on a tree way off 
in de woods. He fotch up, Brer Rabbit did, en lissen fus’ wid one 
year en den wid de yuther. 

“Man, he cut en cut, en Brer Rabbit, he lissen en lissen. 
Bimeby, w’iles all dis was gwine on, down come de tree — 
kubber-lang-bang-blam! Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n jump des lak you 
jump, en let ’lone dat, he make a break, he did, en he lipt out fum 
dar lak de dogs wuz atter ’im.” 

“Was he scared, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy. 

“Skeerd! Who? Him? Shoo! don’t you fret yo’se’f ’bout Brer 
Rabbit, honey. In dem days dey wa’n’t nothin’ gwine dat kin 
skeer Brer Rabbit. Tooby sho’, he tuck keer hisse’f, en ef you 
know de man w’at ’fuse ter take keer hisse’f, I lak mighty well ef 
you p’int ’im out. Deed’n dat I would!” 

Uncle Remus seemed to boil over with argumentative indigna¬ 
tion. 

“Well, den,” he continued, “Brer Rabbit run twel he git sorter 
het up like, en des ’bout de time he makin’ ready fer ter squot en 

90 


BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE 


ketch he win’, who should he meet but Brer Coon gwine home 
atter settin’ up wid ole Brer Bull-Frog. Brer Coon see ’im run- 
nin\ en he hail ’im. 

“‘W’at yo’ hurry, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘Ain’t got time ter tarry.’ 

“‘Folks sick?’ 

“‘No, my Lord! Ain’t got time ter tarry!’ 

“‘Tryin’ yo’ soopleness?’ 

“‘No, my Lord! Ain’t got time ter tarry!’ 

“‘Do pray, Brer Rabbit, tell me de news!’ 

“‘Mighty big fuss back dar in de woods. Ain’t got time ter 
tarry!’ 

“Dis make Brer Coon feel mighty skittish, ’kaze he fur ways 
fum home, en he des lipt out, he did, en went a-b’ilin’ thoo de 
woods. Brer Coon ain’t gone fur twel he meet Brer Fox. 

“‘Hey, Brer Coon, whar you gwine?’ 

“‘Ain’t got time ter tarry!’ 

‘“Gwine at’ de doctor?’ 

“‘No, my Lord! Ain’t got time ter tarry.’ 

“‘Do pray, Brer Coon, tell me de news.’ 

“‘Mighty quare racket back dar in de woods! Ain’t got time 
ter tarry!’ 

“Wid dat, Brer Fox lipt out, he did, en fa’rly split de win’. He 
ain’t gone fur twel he meet Brer Wolf. 

“‘Hey, Brer Fox! Stop en res’ yo’se’f!’ 

“‘Ain’t got time ter tarry!’ 

“‘Who bin want de doctor?’ 

“‘No’ne, my Lord! Ain’t got time ter tarry!’ 

“‘Do pray, Brer Fox, good er bad, tell me de news.’ 

“‘Mighty kuse fuss back dar in de woods! Ain’t got time ter 
tarry!’ 

“Wid dat, Brer Wolf shuck hisse’f loose fum de face er de yeth, 
en he ain’t git fur twel he meet Brer B’ar. Brer B’ar he ax, en 

91 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


Brer Wolf make ans’er, en bimeby Brer B’ar he fotch a snort 
en run’d off; en, bless gracious! ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ de las’ one er 
de creeturs wuz a-skaddlin’ thoo de woods lak de Ole Boy was 
atter um — en all ’kaze Brer Rabbit year Mr. Man cut tree 
down. 

“Dey run’d en dey run’d,” Uncle Remus went on, “twel dey 
come ter Brer Tarrypin house, en dey sorter slack up ’kaze dey 
done mighty nigh los’ der win’. Brer Tarrypin, he up’n ax um 
wharbouts dey gwine, en dey ’low dey wuz a monst’us tarryfyin’ 
racket back dar in de woods. Brer Tarrypin, he ax w’at she soun’ 
lak. One say he dunno, n’er say he dunno, den dey all say dey 
dunno. Den Brer Tarrypin, he up’n ax who year dis monst’us 
racket. One say he dunno, n’er say he dunno, den dey all say 
dey dunno. Dis make ole Brer Tarrypin laff ’way down in he in¬ 
sides, en he up’n say, sezee: — 

“‘You all kin run ’long ef you feel skittish,’ sezee. ‘Atter I 
cook my brekkus en wash up de dishes, ef I gits win’ er any 
’spicious racket may be I mought take down my pairsol en foller 
long atter you,’ sezee. 

“W’en de creeturs come ter make inquirements ’mungs one 
er n’er ’bout who start de news, hit went right spang back ter Brer 
Rabbit, but, lo en beholes! Brer Rabbit ain’t dar, en it tu’n out 
dat Brer Coon is de man w’at seed ’im las’. Den dey got ter layin* 
de blame un it on one er n’er, en little mo’ en dey’d er fit dar scan’- 
lous, but ole Brer Tarrypin, he up’n ’low dat ef dey want ter git de 
straight un it, dey better go see Brer Rabbit. 

“All de creeturs wuz ’gree’ble, en dey put out ter Brer Rab¬ 
bit house. W’en dey git dar, Brer Rabbit wuz a-settin’ cross- 
legged in de front po’ch winkin’ he eye at de sun. Brer B’ar, he 
speak up: — 

“‘W’at make you fool me, Brer Rabbit ? 9 

“‘Fool who, Brer B’ar?’ 

“‘Me, Brer Rabbit, dat’s who. 5 

92 







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/ aS 

M ' Ts|J 

/ JUf 1 \| 

i ws 


AH-YI! YOU OUGHTER AX ME DAT FITS’, 


BRER COON’” 























































































































-* 












































BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE 


“‘Dish yer de fus’ time I seed you dis day, Brer B’ar, en you 
er mo’ dan welcome ter dat.’ 

“Dey all ax ’im en git de same ans’er, en den Brer Coon put 
in: — 

“‘W’at make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘How I fool you, Brer Coon?’ 

“‘You make lak dey wuz a big racket, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘Dey sholy wuz a big racket, Brer Coon.’ 

“‘W’at kinder racket, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“ 6 Ah-yi! You oughter ax me dat fus\ Brer Coon.’ 

“‘I axes you now, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘Mr. Man cut tree down, Brer Coon.’ 

“Co’se dis make Brer Coon feel like a nat’al-born Slink, en 
’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ all de creeturs make der bow ter Brer Rabbit 
en mosey off home.” 

“Brother Rabbit had the best of it all along,” said the little 
boy, after waiting to see whether there was a sequel to the story. 

“Oh, he did dat a-way!” exclaimed Uncle Remus. “Brer Rab¬ 
bit was a mighty man in dem days.” 










4 


















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w h x grother geer^ 

h&s t>o T&il 














































XXI 

WHY BRER BEAR HAS NO TAIL 


“I ’clar’ ter gracious, honey,” Uncle Remus exclaimed one 
night, as the little boy ran in, “you sholy ain’t chaw’d yo’ vittles. 
Hit ain’t bin no time, skacely, sence de supper-bell rung, en ef 
you go on dis a-way, you’ll des nat’ally pe’sh yo’se’f out.” 

“Oh, I was n’t hungry,” said the little boy. “I had something 
before supper, and I was n’t hungry anyway.” 

The old man looked keenly at the child, and presently he 
said: — 

“De ins en de outs er dat kinder talk all come ter de same 
p’int in my min’. Youer bin a-cuttin’ up at de table, en Mars 
John, he tuck’n sont you ’way fum dar, en w’iles he think youer 
off some’rs a-snifflin’ en a-feelin’ bad, yer you is a-high-primin’ 
’roun’ des lak you done had mo’ supper dan de King er Philan¬ 
ders.” 

Before the little boy could inquire about the King of Philanders 
he heard his father calling him. He started to go out, but Uncle 
Remus motioned him back. 

“Des set right whar you is, honey, — des set right still.” 

Then Uncle Remus went to the door and answered for the 
child; and a very queer answer it was — one that could be heard 
half over the plantation: — 

“Mars John, I wish you en Miss Sally be so good ez ter let dat 
chile ’lone. He down yer cryin’ he eyes out, en he ain’t bodderin’ 
’long er nobody in de roun’ worl’.” 

Uncle Remus stood in the door a moment to see what the reply 
would be, but he heard none. Thereupon he continued, in the 
same loud tone: — 


97 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“I ain’t bin use ter no sich gwines on in Ole Miss time, en I 
ain’t gwine git use ter it now. Dat I ain’t.” 

Presently ’Tildy, the house-girl, brought the little boy his 
supper, and the girl was no sooner out of hearing than the child 
swapped it with Uncle Remus for a roasted yam, and the enjoy¬ 
ment of both seemed to be complete. 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, after a while, “you know 
I was n’t crying just now.” 

“Dat’s so, honey,” the old man replied, “but’t would n’t er 
bin long ’fo’ you would er bin, kaze Mars John bawl out lak a man 
w’at got a strop in he han’, so w’at de diff’unce?” 

When they had finished eating. Uncle Remus busied himself 
in cutting and trimming some sole-leather for future use. His 
knife was so keen, and the leather fell away from it so smoothly 
and easily, that the little boy wanted to trim some himself. But 
to this Uncle Remus would not listen. 

“ ’T ain’t on’y chilluns w’at got de consate er doin’ eve’ything 
dey see yuther folks do. Hit’s grown folks w’at oughter know 
better,” said the old man. “Dat’s des de way Brer B’ar git his 
tail broke off smick-smack-smoove, en down ter dis day he de 
funnies’-lookin’ creetur w’at wobble on top er dry groun’.” 

Instantly the little boy forgot all about Uncle Remus’s sharp 
knife. 

“Hit seem lak dat in dem days Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin 
done gone in cohoots fer ter outdo de t’er creeturs. One time Brer 
Rabbit tuck’n make a call on Brer Tarrypin, but w’en he git ter 
Brer Tarrypin house, he year talk fum Miss Tarrypin dat her ole 
man done gone fer ter spen’ de day wid Mr. Mud-Turkle, w’ich 
dey wuz blood kin. Brer Rabbit he put out atter Brer Tarrypin, 
en w’en he got ter Mr. Mud-Turkle house, dey all sot up, dey did, 
en tole tales, en den w’en twelf er’clock come dey had crawfish fer 
dinner, en dey ’joy deyse’f right erlong. Atter dinner dey went 
down ter Mr. Mud-Turkle mill-pon’, en w’en dey git dar Mr. 

98 


WHY BRER BEAR HAS NO TAIL 


Mud-Turkle en Brer Tarrypin dey ’muse deyse’f, dey did, wid 
slidin’ fum de top uv a big slantin’ rock down inter de water. 

“I ’speck you moughter seen rocks in de water ’fo’ now, whar 
dey git green en slipp’y,” said Uncle Remus. 

The little boy had not only seen them, but had found them to 
be very dangerous to walk upon, and the old man continued: — 

“ Well, den, dish yer rock wuz mighty slick en mighty slantin’. 
Mr. Mud-Turkle, he’d crawl ter de top, en tu’n loose, en go 
a-sailin’ down inter de water — kersplash! Ole Brer Tarrypin, 
he’d foiler atter, en slide down inter de water — ker splash! Ole 
Brer Rabbit, he sot off, he did, en praise um up. 

“W’iles dey wuz a-gwine on dis a-way, a-havin’ der fun, en 
’joyin’ deyse’f, yer come ole Brer B’ar. He year um laffin’ en 
holl’in’, en he hail um. 

“‘Heyo, folks! W’at all dis? Ef my eye ain’t ’ceive me, dish 
yer’s Brer Rabbit, en Brer Tarrypin, en ole Unk’ Tommy Mud- 
Turkle,’ sez Brer B’ar, sezee. 

“‘De same,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘en yer we is ’joyin’ de day 
dat passes des lak dey wa’n’t no hard times.’ 

“‘Well, well, well!’ sez ole Brer B’ar, sezee, ‘a-slippin’ en 
a-slidin’ en makin’ free! En w’at de matter wid Brer Rabbit dat 
he ain’t j’inin’ in?’ sezee. 

“Ole Brer Rabbit he wink at Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin 
he hunch Mr. Mud-Turkle, en den Brer Rabbit he up’n ’low, he 
did: — 

“‘My goodness, Brer B’ar! you can’t ’speck a man fer ter slip 
en slide de whole blessid day, kin you? I done had my fun, en now 
I’m a-settin’ out yer lettin’ my cloze dry. Hit’s tu’n en tu’n 
about wid me en deze gents w’en dey’s any fun gwine on,’ 
sezee. 

“‘Maybe Brer B’ar might jine in wid us,’ sez Brer Tarrypin, 
sezee. 

“Brer Rabbit he des holler en laff. 

99 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“ * Shoo ! 5 sezee, ‘ Brer B’ar foot too big en he tail too long fer ter 
slide down dat rock,’ sezee. 

“Dis kinder put Brer B’ar on he mettle, en he up’n ’spon’, he 
did: — 

“‘Maybe dey is, en maybe dey ain’t, yit I ain’t a-feared ter 
try.’ 

“ Wid dat de yuthers tuck’n made way fer ’im, en ole Brer B’ar 
he git up on de rock, he did, en squot down on he hunkers, en 
quile he tail und’ ’im, en start down. Fus’ he go sorter slow, en he 
grin lak he feel good; den he go sorter peart, en he grin lak he feel 
bad; den he go mo’ pearter, en he grin lak he skeerd; den he strack 
de slick part, en, gentermens! he swaller de grin en fetch a howl 
dat moughter bin yeard a mile, en he hit de water lak a chimbly 
a-fallin’. 

“You kin gimme denial,” Uncle Remus continued after a little 
pause, “ but des ez sho’ ez you er settin’ dar, w’en Brer B’ar slick’d 
up en flew down dat rock, he break off he tail right smick-smack- 
smoove, en mo’n dat, w’en he make his disappear’nee up de big 
road, Brer Rabbit holler out: — 

“‘Brer B’ar! — O Brer B’ar! I year tell dat flaxseed poultices 
is mighty good fer so’ places! ’ 

“Yit Brer B’ar ain’t look back.” 


XXII 

HOW BRER RABBIT FRIGHTENED HIS NEIGHBORS 

When Uncle Remus was in a good humor he turned the most 
trifling incidents into excuses for amusing the little boy with his 
stories. One night while he was hunting for a piece of candle on 
the shelf that took the place of a mantel over the fireplace, he 
knocked down a tin plate. It fell upon the hearth with a tremen¬ 
dous clatter. 


100 


BRER RABBIT AND HIS NEIGHBORS 

“Dar now!” exclaimed Uncle Remus. “Hit’s a blessin’ dat 
dat ar platter is got mo’ backbone dan de common run er crockery, 
’kaze’t would er bin bust all ter flinderations long time ago. Dat 
ar platter is got dents on it w’at Miss Sally put dar w’en she ’uz 
a little bit er gal. Yet dar’t is, en right dis minnit hit’ll hoi’ mo’ 
vittles dan w’at I got ter put in it. 

“I lay,” the old man continued, leaning his hand against the 
chimney and gazing at the little boy reflectively, — “I lay ef de 
creeturs had a bin yer w’iles all dat clatterment gwine on dey’d 
a lef’ bidout tellin’ anybody good-bye. All ’ceppin’ Brer Rabbit. 
Bless yo’ soul, he’d er stayed fer ter see de fun, des lak he did dat 
t’er time w’en he skeer um all so. I ’speck I done tole you ’bout 
dat.” 

“When he got the honey on him and rolled in the leaves?” 

Uncle Remus thought a moment. 

“Ef I make no mistakes in my ’membunce, dat wuz de time 
w’en he call hisse’f de Wull-er-de-Wust.” 

The little boy corroborated Uncle Remus’s memory. 

“Well, den, dish yer wuz n’er time, en he lak ter skeer um 
plum out ’n de settlement. En it all come ’bout ’kaze dey wanter 
play smarty.” 

“Who wanted to play smarty, Uncle Remus?” asked the child. 

“Oh, des dem t’er creeturs. Dey wuz allers a-layin’ traps fer 
Brer Rabbit en gittin’ cotch in um deyse’f, en dey wuz allers 
a-pursooin’ atter ’im day in en day out. I ain’t ’nyin’ but w’at 
some er Brer Rabbit pranks wuz mighty ha’sh, but w’y’n’t dey 
let ’im ’lone deyse’f?” 

Naturally, the little boy was not prepared to meet these argu¬ 
ments, even had their gravity been less impressive, so he said 
nothing. 

“In dem days,” Uncle Remus went on, “de creeturs wuz same 
lak folks. Dey had der ups en dey had der downs; dey had der 
hard times, and dey had der saf’ times. Some seasons der craps 

101 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


’ud be good, en some seasons dey’d be bad. Brer Rabbit, he 
far’d lak de res’ un um. W’at he’d make, dat he’d spen\ One 
season he tuck’n made a fine chance er goobers, en he ’low, he did, 
dat ef dey fetch ’im anywhars nigh de money w’at he ’speck dey 
would, he go ter town en buy de truck w’at needcessity call fer. 

“He ain’t no sooner say dat dan ole Miss Rabbit, she vow, she 
did, dat it be a scannul en a shame ef he don’t whirl in en git 
sevin tin cups fer de chilluns fer ter drink out’n, en sevin tin 
plates fer’m fer ter sop out’n, en a coffee-pot fer de fambly. Brer 
Rabbit say dat des zackly w’at he gwine do, en he ’low, he did, 
dat he gwine ter town de cornin’ We’n’sday.” 

Uncle Remus paused, and indulged in a hearty laugh before he 
resumed: — 

“Brer Rabbit wa’n’t mo’n out’n de gate ’fo’ Miss Rabbit, she 
slap on ’er bonnet, she did, en rush ’cross ter Miss Mink house, 
en she ain’t bin dar a minnit ’fo’ she up’n tell Miss Mink dat 
Brer Rabbit done promise ter go ter town We’n’sday cornin’ en 
git de chilluns sump’n’. Co’se, w’en Mr. Mink come home, Miss 
Mink she up’n ’low she want ter know w’at de reason he can’t buy 
sump’n’ fer his chilluns same ez Brer Rabbit do fer his’n, en dey 
quo’ll en quo’ll des lak folks. Atter dat Miss Mink she kyar de 
news ter Miss Fox, en den Brer Fox he tuk’n got a rakin’ over 
de coals. Miss Fox she tell Miss Wolf, en Miss Wolf she tell Miss 
B’ar, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ ev’ybody in dem diggin’s know dat 
Brer Rabbit gwine ter town de cornin’ We’n’sday fer ter git his 
chilluns sump’n’; en all de yuther creeturs’ chilluns ax der ma 
w’at de reason der pa can’t git dem sump’n’. So dar it went. 

“Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B’ar, dey make up der mines, 
dey did, dat ef dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit, dat wuz 
de time, en dey fix up a plan dat dey’d lay fer Brer Rabbit en 
nab ’im w’en he come back fum town. Dey tuck’n make all der 
’rangerments, en wait fer de day. 

“Sho’ nuff, w’en We’n’sday come, Brer Rabbit e’t he brekkus 

102 


BRER RABBIT AND HIS NEIGHBORS 


’fo’ sun-up, en put out fer town. He tuck’n got hisse’f a dram, en 
a plug er terbarker, en a pocket-hankcher, en he got de ole ’oman 
a coffee-pot, en he got de chillun sevin tin cups en sevin tin plates, 
en den todes sundown he start back home. He walk ’long, he did, 
feelin’ mighty biggity, but bimeby w’en he git sorter tired, he sot 
down und’ a black-jack tree, en ’gun to fan hisse’f wid one er der 
platters. 

“W’iles he doin’ dis a little bit er teenchy sap-sucker run up’n 
down de tree en keep on makin’ mighty quare fuss. Atter w’ile 
Brer Rabbit tuk’n shoo at ’im wid de platter. Seem lak dis 
make de teenchy little sap-sucker mighty mad, en he rush out on 
a lim’ right over Brer Rabbit, en he sing out: — 


“ * Pilly-pee, pilly-wee l 
I see w'at he no see l 
I see, pilly-pee, 

I see, w'at he no see /’ 

“He keep on singin’ dis, he did, twel Brer Rabbit ’gun ter look 
’roun’, en he ain’t no sooner do dis dan he see marks in de san’ 
whar sum un done bin dar ’fo’ ’im, en he look little closer en den 
he see w’at de sap-sucker drivin’ at. He scratch his head, Brer 
Rabbit did, en he ’low ter hisse’f: — 

‘“Ah-yi! Yer whar Brer Fox bin settin’, en dar de print er he 
nice bushy tail. Yer whar Brer Wolf bin settin’, en dar de print 
er he fine long tail. Yer whar Brer B’ar bin squattin’ on he 
hunkers, en dar de print w’ich he ain’t got no tail. Dey er all bin 
yer, en I lay dey er hidin’ out in de big gully down dar in de 
holler.’ 

“Wid dat, ole man Rab. tuck’n put he truck in de bushes, en 
den he run ’way ’roun’ fer ter see w’at he kin see. Sho’ nuff,” 
continued Uncle Remus, with a curious air of elation, — “sho’ 
nuff, w’en Brer Rabbit git over agin de big gully down in de holler, 
dar dey wuz. Brer Fox, he ’uz on one side er de road, en Brer Wolf 

103 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


*uz on de t’er side; en ole Brer B’ar he ’uz quiled up in de gully 
takin’ a nap. \ 

“Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n peep at um, he did, en he lick he foot 
en roach back he h’ar, en den hoi’ his han’s ’cross he mouf en laff 
lak some chilluns does w’en dey t’ink dey er foolin’ der ma.” 

“Not me, Uncle Remus — not me!” exclaimed the little boy 
promptly. 

“Heyo dar! don’t kick ’fo’ you er spurred, honey! Brer Rabbit, 
he seed um all dar, en he tuck’n grin, he did, en den he lit out ter 
whar he done lef ’ he truck, en w’en he git dar he dance ’roun’ en 
slap hisse’f on de leg, en make all sorts er kuse motions. Den he 
go ter wuk en tu’n de coffee-pot upside down en stick it on he 
head; den he run he gallus thoo de han’les er de cups, en sling um 
crosst he shoulder; den he ’vide de platters, some in one han’ en 
some in de yuther. Atter he git good en ready, he crope ter de 
top er de hill, he did, en tuck a runnin’ start, en flew down like 
a harrycane — rickety , rackety , slambang /” 

, The little boy clapped his hands enthusiastically. 

“Bless yo’ soul, dem creeturs ain’t year no fuss lak dat, en dey 
ain’t seed no man w’at look lak Brer Rabbit do, wid de coffee¬ 
pot on he head, en de cups a-rattlin’ on he gallus, en de platters 
a-wavin’ en a-shinin’ in de a’r. 

“Now, mine you, ole Brer B’ar wuz layin’ off up de gully takin’ 
a nap, en de fuss skeer ’im so bad dat he make a break en run 
over Brer Fox. He rush out in de road, he did, en w’en he see de 
sight, he whirl ’roun’ en run over Brer Wolf. Wid der scramblin’ 
en der scufflin’, Brer Rabbit got right on um ’fo’ dey kin git aw^ay. 
He holler out, he did: — 

“ 4 Gimme room! Tu’n me loose! I’m ole man Spewter-Splutter 
wid long claws, en scales on my back! I’m snaggle-toofed en 
double-j ’inted! Gimme room! ’ 

“Eve’y time he’d fetch a whoop, he’d rattle de cups en slap 
de platters tergedder — rickety , rackety , slambang! En I let you 

104 


MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT 

know w’en dem creeturs got dey lim’s tergedder dey split de win’, 
dey did dat. Ole Brer B’ar, he struck a stump w’at stan’ in de 
way, en I ain’t gwine tell you how he to’ it up ’kaze you won’t 
b’leeve me, but de nex’ mawnin’ Brer Rabbit en his chilluns went 
back dar, dey did, en dey got nuff splinters fer ter make um kin’- 
lin’ wood all de winter. Yasser! Des ez sho’ ez I’m a-settin’ by 
dish yer h’ath.” 


XXIII 

MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT 

The little boy sat watching Uncle Remus sharpen his shoe- 
knife. The old man’s head moved in sympathy with his hands, 
and he mumbled fragments of a song. Occasionally he would feel 
of the edge of the blade with his thumb, and then begin to sharpen 
it again. The comical appearance of the venerable darkey finally 
had its effect upon the child, for suddenly he broke into a hearty- 
peal of laughter; whereupon Uncle Remus stopped shaking hi3 
head and singing his mumbly-song, and assumed a very dignified 
attitude. Then he drew a long, deep breath, and said: — , 

“’Wen folks git ole en stricken wid de palsy, dey mus’ ’speck 
ter be laff’d at. Goodness knows, I bin use ter dat sence de day 
my whiskers ’gun to bleach.” 

“Why, I was n’t laughing at you, Uncle Remus; I declare I 
was n’t,” cried the little boy. “I thought maybe you might be 
doing your head like Brother Rabbit did when he was fixing to 
cut his meat.” 

Uncle Remus’s seriousness was immediately driven away by a 
broad and appreciative grin. ? ? 

“Now, dat de way ter talk, honey, en I boun’ you wa n t fur 
wrong, n’er, ’kaze fer all dey’ll tell you dat Brer Rabbit make he 
livin’ ’long er nibblin’ at grass en greens, hit’t wa’n’t dat a-way 

105 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

in dem days, ’kaze I got in my ’membunce right now de ’casion 
whar Brer Rabbit is tuck’n e’t meat.” 

The little boy had learned that it was not best to make any 
display of impatience, and so he waited quietly while Uncle 
Remus busied himself with arranging the tools on his shoe-bench. 
Presently the old man began: — 

“Hit so happen dat one day Brer Rabbit meet up wid Brer Fox, 
en w’en dey ’quire atter der corporosity, dey fine out dat bofe un 
um mighty po’ly. Brer Fox, he ’low, he do, dat he monst’us hon- 
gry, en Brer Rabbit he ’spon’ dat he got a mighty hankerin’ atter 
vittles hisse’f. Bimeby dey look up de big road, en dey see Mr. 
Man cornin’ ’long wid a great big hunk er beef und’ he arm. Brer 
Fox he up ’n ’low, he did, dat he lak mighty well fer ter git a tas’e 
er dat, en Brer Rabbit he ’low dat de sight er dat nice meat all 
lineded wid taller is nuff fer ter run a body ’stracted. 

“Mr. Man he come en he come ’long. Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox 
dey look en dey look at ’im. Dey wink der eye en der mouf water. 
Brer Rabbit he ’low he bleedz ter git some er dat meat. Brer Fox 
he ’spon’, he did, dat it look mighty fur off ter him. Den Brer 
Rabbit tell Brer Fox fer ter foiler ’long atter ’im in hailin’ dis- 
tuns, en wid dat he put out, he did, en’t wa’nt long ’fo’ he kotch 
up wid Mr. Man. 

“Dey pass de time er day, en den dey went joggin’ ’long de 
road same lak dey ’uz gwine ’pun a journey. Brer Rabbit he keep 
on snuffin’ de a’r. Mr. Man up’n ax ’im is he got a bad cole, en 
Brer Rabbit ’spon’ dat he smell sump’n’ w’ich it don’t smell like 
ripe peaches. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit ’gun to hoi’ he nose, he did, 
en atter w’ile he sing out: — 

“‘Gracious en de goodness, Mr. Man! hit’s dat meat er yone. 
Phew! Whar’bouts is you pick up dat meat at? ’ 

“Dis make Mr. Man feel sorter ’shame’ hisse’f, en ter make 
marters wuss, yer come a great big green fly a-zoonin’ ’roun’. 
Brer Rabbit he git way off on t’er side er de road, en he keep on 

106 


MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT 

hol’in’ he nose. Mr. Man, he look sorter sheepish, he did, en dey 
ain’t gone fur ’fo’ he put de meat down on de side er de road, en 
he tuck’n ax Brer Rabbit w’at dey gwine do ’bout it. Brer Rabbit 
he ’low, he did: — 

“‘I year tell in my time dat ef you take’n drag a piece er meat 
thoo’ de dus’ hit’ll fetch back hits freshness. I ain’t no super- 
spicious man myse’f,’ sezee, ‘en I ain’t got no ’speunce wid no sech 
doin’s, but dem w’at tell me say dey done try it. Yit I knows dis, 
says Brer Rabbit, sezee,— ‘I knows dat ’t ain’t gwine do no 
harm, ’kaze de grit w’at gits on de meat kin be wash off,’ sez 
Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“‘I ain’t got no string,’ sez Mr. Man, sezee. 

“Brer Rabbit laff hearty, but still he hoi’ he nose. 

“‘Time you bin in de bushes long ez I is, you won’t miss 
strings,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“Wid dat Brer Rabbit lipt out, en he ain’t gone long ’fo’ he 
come hoppin’ back wid a whole passel er bamboo vines all tied 
tergedder. Mr. Man, he ’low: — 

“‘Dat line mighty long.’ 

“Brer Rabbit he ’low: — 

“‘Tooby sho’, you want de win’ fer ter git ’twix’ you en dat 
meat.’ 

“Den Mr. Man tuck’n tied de bamboo line ter de meat. Brer 
Rabbit he broke off a ’simmon bush, he did, en ’low dat he’d stay 
behime en keep de flies off. Mr. Man he go on befo’ en drag de 
meat, en Brer Rabbit he stay behime, he did, en take keer un it.” 

Here Uncle Remus was compelled to pause and laugh before he 
could proceed with the story. . , . 

“En he is take keer un it, mon — dat he is. He tuck’n git ’im a 
rock, en w’iles Mr. Man gwine ’long bidout lookin’ back, he ondo 
de meat en tie de rock ter de bamboo line, en w’en Brer Fox foller 
on, sho’ nuff, dar lay de meat. Mr. Man, he drug de rock, he did, 
en Brer Rabbit he keep de flies off, twel atter dey gone on right 

107 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS ~ 

smart piece, en den w’en Mr. Man look ’roun\ whar wuz ole man 
Rabbit? 

“Bless yo’ soul, Brer Rabbit done gone back en jine Brer Fox, 
en he wuz des in time, at dat, ’kaze little mo’ en Brer Fox would 
’a’ done bin outer sight en yearin’. En so dat de way Brer Rabbit 
git Mr. Man meat. ,, 

The little boy reflected a little, and then said: — 

“Uncle Remus, was n’t that stealing?” 

“Well, I tell you ’bout dat, honey,” responded the old man, 
with the air of one who is willing to compromise. “In dem days de 
creeturs bleedz ter look out fer deyse’f, mo’ speshually dem w’at 
ain’t got hawn en huff. Brer Rabbit ain’t got no hawn en huff, en 
he bleedz ter be he own lawyer.” 

Just then the little boy heard his father’s buggy rattling down 
the avenue, and he ran out into the darkness to meet it. After 
he was gone, Uncle Remus sat a long time rubbing his hands 
and looking serious. Finally he leaned back in his chair, and 
exclaimed: — 

“Dat little chap gittin’ too much fer ole Remus — dat he is!” 


XXIV 

HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT 

When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the cabin was 
dark and empty and the door shut. The old man was gone. He 
was absent for several nights, but at last one night the little boy 
saw a welcome light in the cabin, and he made haste to pay Uncle 
Remus a visit. He was full of questions: — 

“Goodness, Uncle Remus! Where in the world have you been? 
I thought you were gone for good. Mamma said she reckoned the 
treatment here did n’t suit you, and you had gone off to get some 
of your town friends to hire you.” 

108 


HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT 


“Is Miss Sally tell you dat, honey? Well, ef she ain’t de beat- 
enes’ w’ite ’oman dis side er kingdom come, you kin des shoot me. 
Miss Sally tuck’n writ me a pass wid her own han’s fer ter go see 
some er my kin down dar in de Ashbank settlement. Yo’ mammy 
quare ’oman, honey, sho’! 

“En yit, w’at de good er my stayin’ yer? T’er night, I ain’t 
mo’n git good en started ’fo’ you er up en gone, en I ain’t seed ha’r 
ner hide un you sence. W’en I see you do dat, I ’low ter myse’f 
dat hit’s des ’bout time fer ole man Remus fer ter pack up he duds 
en go hunt comp’ny some’r’s else.” 

“Well, Uncle Remus,” exclaimed the little boy, in a tone of 
expostulation, “didn’t Brother Fox get the meat, and wasn’t 
that the end of the story?” 

Uncle Remus started to laugh, but he changed his mind so sud¬ 
denly that the little boy was convulsed. The old man groaned 
and looked at the rafters with a curious air of disinterestedness. 
After a while he went on with great seriousness: — 

“I dunner w’at kinder idee folks got ’bout Brer Rabbit nohow, 
dat I don’t. S’pozen you lays de plans so some yuther chap kin git 
a big hunk er goody, is you gwine ter set off some’r’s en see ’im 
make way wid it?” 

“What kind of goody, Uncle Remus?” 

“ Dish yer kinder goody w’at town folks keeps. Mint draps and 
reezins, en sweet doin’s lak Miss Sally keep und’ lock en key. 
Well, den, if you gits some er dat, er may be some yuther kinder 
goody, w’ich I wish ’t wuz yer right dis blessid minnit, is you 
gwine ter set quile up in dat cheer en let n’er chap run off wid it? 
Dat you ain’t — dat you ain’t!” 

“ Oh, I know! ” exclaimed the little boy. “ Brother Rabbit went 
back and made Brother Fox give him his part of the meat.” 

“Des lak I tell you, honey; dey wa’n’t no man ’mungs de 
creeturs w’at kin stan’ right flat-footed en wuk he min’ quick lak 
Brer Rabbit. He tuck’n tie de rock on de string, stidder de meat, 

109 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


en he pursue long atter it, he did, twel Mr. Man tu’n a ben’ in 
de road, en den Brer Rabbit, he des lit out fum dar — terbuckity- 
buckity , back-buck-buckity! en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he tuck’n kotch 
up wid Brer Fox. Dey tuck de meat, dey did, en kyar’d it way off 
in de woods, en laid it down on a clean place on de groun\ 

“Dey laid it down, dey did,” continued Uncle Remus, drawing 
his chair up closer to the little boy, “en den Brer Fox ’low dey 
better sample it, en Brer Rabbit he ’gree. Wid dat, Brer Fox he 
tuck’n gnyaw off a hunk, en he shut bofe eyes, he did, en he chaw 
en chaw, en tas’e en tas’e, en chaw en tas’e. Brer Rabbit, he 
watch ’im, but Brer Fox, he keep bofe eyes shot, en he chaw en 
tas’e, en tas’e en chaw.” 

Uncle Remus not only furnished a pantomime accompaniment 
to this recital by shutting his eyes and pretending to taste, but 
he lowered his voice to a pitch of tragical significance in reporting 
the dialogue that ensued: — 

“ Den Brer Fox smack he mouf en look at de meat mo’ closeter, 
en up ’n ’low: — 

“‘Brer Rabbit, hit 9 s lam 9 ! 9 

“‘No, Brer Fox! sho 9 ly not! 9 

“‘Brer Rabbit, hit 9 s lam 9 ! 9 

“‘Brer Fox, tooby sho 9 ly not! 9 

“Den Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n gnyaw off a hunk, en he shot 
bofe eyes, en chaw en tas’e, en tas’e en chaw. Den he smack he 
mouf, en up’n ’low: — 

“‘Brer Fox, hit 9 s shote! 9 

“ ‘Brer Rabbit, you foolin’ me!’ 

‘“Brer Fox, I vow hit 9 s shote! 9 

“‘Brer Rabbit, hit des can 9 t be! 9 

“‘Brer Fox, hit sho 9 ly is! 9 

“Dey tas’e en dey ’spute, en dey ’spute en dey tas’e. Atter 
w’ile, Brer Rabbit make lak he want some water, en he rush off 
in de bushes, en d’reckly yer he come back wipin’ he mouf en 

110 


HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT 

clewin’ up he th’oat. Den Brer Fox he want some water sho* 
nuff: — 

“‘Brer Rabbit, whar you fin’ de spring? 1 

‘“’Cross de road, en down de hill en up de big gully/ 

“Brer Fox, he lope off, he did, en atter he gone Brer Rabbit 
totch he year wid he behime foot lak he flippin’ ’im good-bye. 
Brer Fox, he cross de road en rush down de hill, he did, yit he 
ain’t fin’ no big gully. He keep on gwine twel he fin’ de big gully, 
yit he ain’t fin’ no spring. 

“W’iles all dish yer gwine on, Brer Rabbit he tuck’n grabble 
a hole in de groun’, he did, en in dat hole he hid de meat. Atter 
he git it good en hid, he tuck’n cut ’im a long keen hick’ry, en 
atter so long a time, w’en he year Brer Fox cornin’ back, he got 
in a clump er bushes, en tuck dat hick’ry en let in on a saplin’, en 
ev’y time he hit de saplin’, he ’ud squall out, Brer Rabbit would, 
des lak de patter-rollers had ’im: — 

“Pow , pow! ‘Oh, pray, Mr. Man!’ — Pow , pow! ‘Oh, pray, 
Mr. Man!’ — Chippy-row , pow! ‘Oh, Lordy, Mr. Man! Brer 
Fox tuck yo’ meat! ’ — Pow! ‘ Oh, pray, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck 
yo’ meat!’” 

Every time Uncle Remus said “Pow!”he struck himself in the 
palm of his hand with a shoe-sole by way of illustration. 

“Co’se,” he went on, “w’en Brer Fox year dis kinder doin’s, 
he fotch up, he did, en lissen, en ev’y time he year de hick’ry come 
down pow! he tuck’n grin en ’low ter hisse’f, ‘Ah-yi! you fool me 
’bout de water! Ah-yi! you fool me ’bout de water!’ 

“Atter so long a time, de racket sorter die out, en seem lak 
Mr. Man wuz draggin’ Brer Rabbit off. Dis make Brer Fox feel 
mighty skittish. Bimeby Brer Rabbit come a-cally-hootin’ back 
des a-hollerin’: — 

“‘Run, Brer Fox, run! Mr. Man say he gwine to kyar dat 
meat up de road ter whar he son is,en den he’s a-comin’ back atter 
you. Run, Brer Fox, run!’ 


Ill 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“En I let you know/’ said Uncle Remus, leaning back and 
laughing to see the little boy laugh, “I let you know Brer Fox got 
mighty skace in dat neighborhood!” 


XXV 

AFRICAN JACK 

Usually, the little boy, who regarded himself as Uncle Re¬ 
mus’s partner, was not at all pleased when he found the old 
man entertaining, in his simple way, any of his colored friends; 
but he was secretly delighted when he called one night and found 
Daddy Jack sitting by Uncle Remus’s hearth. Daddy Jack was 
an object of curiosity to older people than the little boy. He was 
a genuine African, and for that reason he was known as African 
Jack, though the child had been taught to call him Daddy Jack. 
He was brought to Georgia in a slave-ship when he was about 
twenty years old, and remained upon one of the sea-islands for 
several years. Finally, he fell into the hands of the family of which 
Uncle Remus’s little partner was the youngest representative, and 
became the trusted foreman of a plantation, in the southern part 
of Georgia, known as the Walthall Place. Once every year he was 
in the habit of visiting the Home Place in Middle Georgia, and it 
was during one of these annual visits that the little boy found him 
in Uncle Remus’s cabin. 

Daddy Jack appeared to be quite a hundred years old, but he 
was probably not more than eighty. He was a little, dried-up old 
man, whose weazened, dwarfish appearance, while it was calcu¬ 
lated to inspire awe in the minds of the superstitious, was not with¬ 
out its pathetic suggestions. The child had been told that the old 
African was a wizard, a conjurer, and a snake-charmer; but he 
was not afraid, for, in any event, — conjuration, witchcraft, or 
what not, — he was assured of the protection of Uncle Remus. 

112 


AFRICAN JACK 

As the little boy entered the cabin Uncle Remus smiled and 
nodded pleasantly, and made a place for him on a little stool upon 
which had been piled the odds and ends of work. Daddy Jack 
paid no attention to the child; his thoughts seemed to be else¬ 
where. 

“Go en shake han’s, honey, en tell Daddy Jack howdy. He lak 
good chilluns.” Then to Daddy Jack: “Brer Jack, dish yer de 
chap w’at I bin tellin’ you ’bout.” 

The little boy did as he was bid, but Daddy Jack grunted un¬ 
graciously and made no response to the salutation. He was evi¬ 
dently not fond of children. Uncle Remus glanced curiously at 
the dwarfed and withered figure, and spoke a little more em¬ 
phatically: — 

“Brer Jack, ef you take good look at dis chap, I lay you’ll see 
mo’n you speck ter see. You ’ll see sump’n’ dat ’ll make you grunt 
wusser dan you grunted deze many long year. Go up dar, honey, 
whar Daddy Jack kin see you.” 

The child went shyly up to the old African and stood at his 
knee. The sorrows and perplexities of nearly a hundred years lay 
between them; and now, as always, the baffled eyes of age gazed 
into the Sphinx-like face of youth, as if by this means to unravel 
the mysteries of the past and solve the problems of the future. 

Daddy Jack took the plump, rosy hands of the little boy in his 
black, withered ones, and gazed into his face so long and steadily, 
and with such curious earnestness, that the child did n’t know 
whether to laugh or cry. Presently the old African flung his hands 
to his head, and rocked his body from side to side, moaning and 
mumbling, and talking to himself, while the tears ran down his 
face like rain. 

“Ole Missy! Ole Missy! ’E come back! I bin shum dey-dey, 
I bin shum de night! I bin yeddy ’e v’ice, I bin yeddy de sign!” 

“Ah-yi!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, into whose arms the little 
boy had fled; “I des know d dat ud fetch im. Hit s bin manys 

113 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


de long days sence Brer Jack seed Ole Miss, yit ef he ain’t seed 
’er dat whack, den I ain’t settin’ yer.” i 

After a while Daddy Jack ceased his rocking, and his moaning, 
and his crying, and sat gazing wistfully into the fireplace. What¬ 
ever he saw there fixed his attention, for Uncle Remus spoke to 
him several times without receiving a response. Presently, how¬ 
ever, Daddy Jack exclaimed with characteristic but laughable 
irrelevance: — 

“I no lakky dem gal wut is bin-a stan’ pidjin-toe. Wun ’e 
fetch pail er water on ’e head, water churray, churray. I no 
lakky dem gal wut tie ’e wool up wit’ string; mekky him stan’ 
ugly fer true. I bin ahx da’ ’Tildy gal fer marry me, un ’e no crack 
’im bre’t’ fer mek answer ’cep’ ’e bre’k out un lahf by me werry 
face. Da’ gal do holler un lahf un stomp ’e fut dey-dey, un dun 
I shum done gone pidjin-toe. Oona bin know da’ ’Tildy gal?” 

“I bin a-knowin’ dat gal,” said Uncle Remus, grimly regarding 
the old African; “I bin a-knowin’ dat gal now gwine on sence she 
’uz knee-high ter one er deze yer puddle-ducks; en I bin noticin’ 
lately dat she mighty likely nigger.” 

“Enty!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, enthusiastically, “I did bin 
mek up ter da’ lilly gal troo t’ick un t’in. I bin fetch ’im one fine 
’possum, un mo’ ez one, two, free peck-a taty, un bumbye I bin 
fetch ’im one bag pop-co’n. Wun I bin do dat, I is fley ’roun’ da’ 
lilly gal so long tarn, un I yeddy ’im talk wit’ turrer gal. ’E do 
say: ‘Daddy Jack fine ole man fer true.’ Dun I is bin talk: ‘Oona 
no call-a me Daddy Jack wun dem preacher man come fer marry 
we.’ Dun da’ lilly gal t’row ’e head back; ’e squeal lak filly in 
canebrake.” 

The little boy understood this rapidly spoken lingo perfectly 
well, but he would have laughed anyhow, for there was more than 
a suggestion of the comic in the shrewd seriousness that seemed to 
focus itself in Daddy Jack’s pinched and wrinkled face. 

“She tuck de truck w’at you tuck’n fotch ’er,” said Uncle 
114 


AFRICAN JACK 

Remus, with the air of one carefully and deliberately laying the 
basis of a judicial opinion, “en den w’en you sail in en talk 
bizness, den she up en gun you de flat un ’er foot en de back 
un ’er han’, en den, atter dat, she tuck’n laff en make spote un 
you.” 

“Enty!” assented Daddy Jack, admiringly. 

“Well, den, Brer Jack, youer mighty ole, en yit hit seem lak 
youer mighty young; kaze a man w’at ain’t got no mo’ speunce 
wid wimmen folks dan w’at you is neenter creep ’roun’ yer callin’ 
deyse’f ole. Dem kinder folks ain’t ole nuff, let ’lone bein’ too ole. 
W’en de gal tuck’n laff, Brer Jack, w’at ’uz yo’ nex’ move?” de¬ 
manded Uncle Remus, looking down upon the shrivelled old man 
with an air of superiority. 

Daddy Jack shut his shrewd little eyes tightly and held them 
so, as if by that means to recall all the details of the flirtation. 
Then he said: — 

“Da’ lilly gal is bin tek dem t’ing. ’E is bin say, ‘T’anky, 
t’anky.’ Him eaty da’ ’possum, him eaty da’ pop-co’n, him roas’n 
da’ taty. ’E do say, ‘T’anky, t’anky!’ Wun I talk marry, ’e is 
bin ris ’e v’ice un squeal lak lilly pig stuck in ’e Croat. ’E do 
holler: ‘Hi, Daddy Jack! wut is noung gal gwan do wit’ so ole man 
lak dis?’ Un I is bin say: ‘Wut noung gal gwan do wit’ ole 
Chris’mus’ cep’ ’e do ’joy ’ese’f?’ Un da’ lil gal ’e do lahff un flut 
’ese’f way fum dey-dey.” 

“I know’d a nigger one time,” said Uncle Remus, after ponder¬ 
ing a moment, “w’at tuck a notion dat he want a bait er ’simmons, 
en de mo’ w’at de notion tuck ’im de mo’ w’at he want um, en 
bimeby, hit look lak he des nat’ally erbleedz ter have um. He 
want de ’simmons, en dar dey is in de tree. He mouf water, en 
dar hang de ’simmons. Now, den, w’at do dat nigger do? W’en 
you en me en dish yer chile yer wants ’simmons, we goes out en 
shakes de tree, en ef deyer good en ripe, down dey comes, en ef 
deyer good en green, dar dey stays. But dish yer yuther nigger, 

115 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

he too smart fer dat. He des tuck’n tuck he stan’ und’ de tree, 
en he open he mouf, he did, en wait fer de ’simmons fer ter drap 
in dar. Dey ain’t none drap in yit,” continued Uncle Remus, 
gently knocking the cold ashes out of his pipe; “en w’at’s mo’, 
dey ain’t none gwine ter drap in dar. Dat des ’zackly de way wid 
Brer Jack yer, ’bout marryin’; he stan’ dar, he do, en he hoi’ bofe 
han’s wide open en he ’speck de gal gwine ter drap right spang in 
um. Man want gal, he des got ter grab ’er — dat’s w’at. Dey 
may squall en dey may flutter, but flutter’n’ en squallin’ ain’t 
done no damage yit ez I knows un, en ’t ain’t gwine ter. Young 
chaps kin make great ’miration ’bout gals, but w’en dey gits ole 
ez I is, dey ull know dat folks is folks, en w’en it come ter bein’ 
folks, de wimmen ain gut none de ’vantage er de men. Now dat’s 
des de plain up en down tale I’m a-tellin’ un you.” 

This deliverance from so respectable an authority seemed to 
please Daddy Jack immensely. He rubbed his withered hands 
together, smacked his lips and chuckled. After a few restless 
movements he got up and went shuffling to the door, his quick, 
short steps causing Uncle Remus to remark: — 

“De gal w’at git ole Brer Jack ’ull git a natchul pacer, sho\ 
He move mo’ one-sideder dan ole Zip Coon, w’ich he rack up de 
branch all night long wid he nose p’int lak he gwine ’cross.” 

While the little boy was endeavoring to get Uncle Remus to 
explain the nature of Daddy Jack’s grievances, muffled laughter 
was heard outside, and almost immediately ’Tildy rushed in the 
door. ’Tildy flung herself upon the floor and rolled and laughed 
until, apparently, she could laugh no more. Then she seemed 
to grow severely angry. She arose from the floor and flopped her¬ 
self down in a chair, and glared at Uncle Remus with indignation 
in her eyes. As soon as she could control her inflamed feelings, 
she cried: — 

“W’at is I done ter you, Unk’ Remus? ’Fo’ de Lord, ef any¬ 
body wuz ter come en tole me dat you gwine ter put de Ole Boy 

116 


AFRICAN JACK 


in dat ole Affikin nigger head, I would n’t er b’leeved um — dat 
I would n’t. Unk’ Remus, w’at is I done ter you?” 

Uncle Remus made no direct response; but he leaned over, 
reached out his hand, and picked up an unfinished axe-helve that 
stood in the corner. Then he took the little boy by the arm, and 
pushed him out of the way, saying in his gentlest and most per¬ 
suasive tone:— 

“Stan’ sorter ’roun’ dar, honey, ’kaze w’en de splinters ’gin 
ter fly, I want you ter be out’n de way. Miss Sally never gimme 
’er fergivance in de roun’ worl’ ef you ’uz ter git hurted on account 
er de frazzlin’ er dish yer piece er timber.” 

Uncle Remus’s movements and remarks had a wonderful 
effect on ’Tildy. Her anger disappeared, her eyes lost their 
malignant expression, and her voice fell to a conversational 
tone. 

“Now, Unk’ Remus, you ought n’t ter do me dat a-way, ’kaze 
I ain’t done nothin’ ter you. I ’uz settin’ up yon’ in Aunt Tempy 
house, des now, runnin’ on wid Riah, en yer come dat ole Affikin 
Jack en say you say he kin marry me ef he ketch me, en he try ter 
put he arm ’roun’ me en kiss me.” 

’Tildy tossed her head and puckered her mouth at the bare 
remembrance of it. 

“ W’at wud did you gin Brer Jack? ” inquired Uncle Remus, not 
without asperity. 

“W’at I gwine tell him?” exclaimed ’Tildy disdainfully. “I 
des tuck’n up en tole ’im he foolin’ wid de wrong nigger.” 

’Tildy would have continued her narration, but just at that 
moment the shuffling of feet was heard outside, and Daddy 
Jack came in, puffing and blowing and smiling. Evidently 
he had been hunting for ’Tildy in every house in the negro 
quarter. 

“Hi!” he exclaimed, “lil gal, ’e bin skeet sem lak ma’sh hen. 
’E no run no mo’.” 


117 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Pick ’er up, Brer Jack,” exclaimed Uncle Remus; “she’s 
yone.” 

’Tildy was angry as well as frightened. She would have fled, 
but Daddy Jack stood near the door. 

“Look yer, nigger man!” she exclaimed, “ef you come slobbun 
’roun’ me, I ’ll take one er deze yer dog-iiins en brain you wid it. 
I ain’t gwine ter have no web-foot nigger follerin’ atter me. Now 
you des come! — I ain’t feard er yo’ cunjun. Unk’ Remus, ef you 
got any intruss in dat ole Afflkin ape, you better make ’im lemme 
’lone. G’way fum yer now!” 

All this time Daddy Jack was slowly approaching ’Tildy, bow¬ 
ing and smiling, and looking quite dandified, as Uncle Remus 
afterward said. Just as the old African was about to lay hands 
upon ’Tildy, she made a rush for the door. The movement was 
so unexpected that Daddy Jack was upset. He fell upon Uncle 
Remus’s shoe-bench, and then rolled off on the floor, where he lay 
clutching at the air, and talking so rapidly that nobody could 
understand a word he said. Uncle Remus lifted him to his feet, 
with much dignity, and it soon became apparent that he was 
neither hurt nor angry. The little boy laughed immoderately, 
and he was still laughing when ’Tildy put her head in the door and 
exclaimed: — 

“Unk’ Remus, I ain’t kilt dat ole nigger, is I? ’Kaze ef I got 
ter go ter de gallus, I want to go dar fer sump’n’ n’er bigger’n 
dat.” 

Uncle Remus disdained to make any reply, but Daddy Jack 
chuckled and patted himself on the knee as he cried: — 

“ Come ’long, lilly gal! come ’long! I no mad. I fall down dey fer 
laff. Come ’long, lilly gal, come ’long.” 

’Tildy went on laughing loudly and talking to herself. After 
awhile Uncle Remus said: — 

“Honey, I ’speck Miss Sally lookin’ und’ de bed en axin’ w T har 
you is. You better leak out fum yer now, en by dis time ter- 

118 


WHY THE ALLIGATOR’S BACK IS ROUGH 


morrer night I’ll git Brer Jack all primed up, en he’ll whirl in en 
tell you a tale.” 

Daddy Jack nodded assent, and the little boy ran laughing to 
the “big house.” 


XXVI 

WHY THE ALLIGATOR’S BACK IS ROUGH 

The night after the violent flirtation between Daddy Jack and 
’Tildy, the latter coaxed and bribed the little boy to wait until 
she had finished her work about the house. After she had set 
things to rights in the dining-room and elsewhere, she took the 
child by the hand, and together they went to Uncle Remus’s 
cabin. The old man was making a door-mat of shucks and grass 
and white-oak splits, and Daddy Jack was dozing in the corner. 

“W’at I tell you, Brer Jack?” said Uncle Remus, as ’Tildy 
came in. “ Dat gal atter you, mon! ” 

“Fer de Lord sake, Unk’ Remus, don’t start dat ole nigger. I 
done promise Miss Sally dat I won’t kill ’im, en I like ter be good 
ez my word; but ef he come foolin’ longer me I’m des nat’ally 
gwine ter onj’int ’im. Now you year me say de word.” 

But Daddy Jack made no demonstration. He sat with his 
eyes closed, and paid no attention to ’Tildy. After awhile the 
little boy grew restless, and presently he said: — 

“Daddy Jack, you know you promised to tell me a story to¬ 
night.” 

“He wukkin’ wid it now, honey,” said Uncle Remus, soothingly. 
“Brer Jack,” he continued, “wa’n’t dey sump’n’ n’er ’bout ole 
man Yalligater?” 

“Hi!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, arousing himself, “’e ’bout 
B’er ’Gater fer true. Oona no bin see da’ B’er ’Gater?” 

The child had seen one, but it was such a very little one he 

119 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


hardly knew whether to claim an acquaintance with Daddy 
Jack’s ’Gater. 

“Dem all sem,” continued Daddy Jack. “Big mout’, pop-eye, 
walk on ’e belly; ’e is bin got bump, bump, bump ’pon ’e bahk, 
bump, bump, bump ’pon ’e tail. ’E dife ’neat’ de water, ’e do 
lif ’pon de lan’. 

I “One tarn Dog is bin run B’er Rabbit, tel ’e do git tire; da* 
Dog is bin run ’im tel him ent mos’ hab no bre’t’ in ’e body; ’e 
hide ’ese’f by de crik side. ’E come close ’pon B’er ’Gater, en 
B’er ’Gater, ’e do say: — 

“‘Ki, B’er Rabbit! wut dis is mek you blow so? Wut mekky 
you’ bre’t’ come so?’ 

“‘Eh-eh! B’er ’Gater, I hab bin come ’pon trouble. Dog, ’e 
do run un-a run me.’ 

“‘Wey you no fetch ’im ’long, B’er Rabbit? I is bin git fat on 
all da’ trouble lak dem. I proud fer yeddy Dog bark, ef ’e is bin 
fetch-a me trouble lak dem.’ 

“‘Wait, B’er ’Gater! Trouble come bisitin’ wey you lif; ’e 
mekky you’ side puff; ’e mekky you’ bre’t’ come so.’ 

“’Gater, he do flup ’e tail un ’tretch ’ese’f, un lahff. ’E say: — 

“‘I lak fer see dem trouble. Nuddin’ no bodder me. I ketch-a 
dem swimp, I ketch-a dem crahb, I mekky my bed wey de sun 
shitin hot, un I do ’joy mese’f. I proud fer see dem trouble.’ 

‘“’E come ’pon you, B’er ’Gater, wun you bin hab you’ eye 
shed; ’e come ’pon you fum de turrer side. Ef ’e no come ’pon 
you in da’ crik, dun ’e come ’pon you in da’ broom-grass.’ 

“‘Dun I shekky um by de han’, B’er Rabbit; I ahx um howdy.’ 

“‘Eh-eh, B’er ’Gater! you bin-a lahff at me; you no lahff wun 
dem trouble come. Dem trouble bin ketch-a you yit.’ ” 

Daddy Jack paused to wipe his face. He had reported the dia¬ 
logue between Brother Rabbit and Brother Alligator with con¬ 
siderable animation, and had illustrated it as he went along with 
many curious inflections of the voice, and many queer gestures of 

120 


WHY THE ALLIGATOR’S BACK IS ROUGH 

head and hands impossible to describe here, but which added pic¬ 
turesqueness to the story. After awhile he went on: — 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e do blow un ’e do ketch um bre’t’. ’E pit one 
year wey Dog is bin-a bark; ’e pit one eye ’pon B’er ’Gater. ’E 
lissen, ’e look; ’e look, ’e lissen. ’E no yeddy Dog, un ’e comforts 
come back. Bumbye B’er ’Gater, ’e come drowsy; ’e do nod, nod, 
un ’e head sway down, tel ma’sh-grass tickle ’e nose, un ’e do 
cough sem lak ’e teer up da’ crik by da’ root. ’E no lak dis place 
fer sleep at, un ’e is crawl troo da’ ma’sh ’pon dry lan’; ’e is mek 
fer da’ broom-grass fiel’. ’E mek ’e bed wid ’e long tail, un ’e is 
’tretch ’ese’f out at ’e lenk. ’E is shed ’e y-eye, un opun ’e mout’, 
un tek ’e nap. 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e do hoi’ ’e y-eye ’pon B’er ’Gater. Him talk 
no wud; him wallup ’e cud; him stan’ still. B’er ’Gater, ’e do tek 
’e nap; B’er Rabbit ’e do watch. Bum-bye, B’er ’Gater bre’t’, ’e 
do come loud; ’e is bin sno’ hard! ’E dream lilly dream; ’e wuk 
’e fut un shek ’e tail in ’e dream. B’er Rabbit wink ’e y-eye, un 
’e do watch. B’er ’Gater, he do leaf ’e dream bahine, un ’e sleep 
soun’. B’er Rabbit watch lil, wait lil. Bumbye, ’e do go wey fier 
bu’n in da’ stump, un ’e is fetch some. ’E say, ‘ Dis day I is mek 
you know dem trouble; I is mek you know dem well.’ ’E hop 
’roun’ dey-dey, un ’e do light da’ broom-grass; ’e bu’n, bu’n — 
bu’n, bu’n; ’e do bu’n smaht. 

“B’er ’Gater, ’e is dream some mo’ lilly dream. ’E do wuk ’e 
fut, ’e do shek ’e tail. Broom-grass bu’n, bu’n; B’er ’Gater dream. 
’E dream da’ sun is shiiin’ hot; ’e worn ’e back, ’e worn ’e belly; 
’e wuk ’e fut, ’e shek ’e tail. Broom-grass bu’n high, ’e bu’n low; 
’e bu’n smaht, ’e bu’n hot. Bumbye, B’er ’Gater is wek fum ’e 
dream; ’e smell-a da’ smoke, ’e feel-a da’ fier. ’E run dis way, ’e 
run turrer way; no diffran’ wey ’e is run, dey da smoke, dey da 
fier. Bu’n, bu’n, bu’nl B’er ’Gater lash ’e tail, un grine ’e toof. 
Bumbye, ’e do roll un holler: 

“‘Trouble, trouble, trouble! Trouble, trouble!’ 

121 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“B’er Rabbit, ’e is stan’ pas’ da’ fier, un ’e do say: — 

“‘Ki! B’er ’Gater! Wey you fer l’arn-a dis talk ’bout dem 
trouble?’ -a 

“B’er ’Gater, ’e lash ’e tail, ’e fair teer da’ ye’t, 1 un ’e do 
holler: — 

“‘Oh, ma Lord! Trouble! Trouble, trouble, trouble! 9 

“‘Shekky um by de han’, B’er ’Gater. Ahx um howdy!’ 

“‘Ow, ma Lord! Trouble, trouble, trouble /’ 

“‘Lahff wit’ dem trouble, B’er ’Gater, lahff wit’ dem! Ahx 
dem is dey he’lt’ bin well! You bin-a cry fer dey ’quaintun’, 2 
B’er ’Gater; now you mus’ beer wit’ dem trouble!’ 

“B’er ’Gater come so mad, ’e mek dash troo da’ broom-grass; 
’e fair teer um down. ’E bin scatter da’ fier wide ’part, un ’e do 
run un dife in da’ crik fer squinch da’ fier ’pon ’e bahk. ’E bahk 
swivel, ’e tail swivel wit’ da’ fier, un fum dat dey is bin stan’ so. 
Bump, bump ’pon ’e tail; bump, bump ’pon ’e bahk, wey da’ 
fier bu’n.” 

“Hit’s des lak Brer Jack tell you, honey,” said Uncle Remus, 
as Daddy Jack closed his eyes and relapsed into silence. “I done 
seed um wid my own eyes. En deyer mighty kuse creeturs, mon. 
Dey back is all ruffed up en down ter dis day en time, en mo’n 
dat, you ain’t gwineter ketch Brer Rabbit rackin’ ’roun’ whar de 
Yallergaters is. En de Yallergaters deyse’f, w’en dey years any 
crackin’ en rattlin’ gwine on in de bushes, dey des makes a break 
fer de creek en splunges in.” 

“Enty!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, with momentary enthusiasm. 
“ ’E do tu’n go da’ bahnk, un dife ’neat’ da’ crik. ’E bin so worn 
wit’ da’ fier, ’e mek de crik go si-z-z-z!” 

Here Daddy Jack looked around and smiled. His glance fell on 
’Tildy, and he seemed suddenly to remember that he had failed 
to be as polite as circumstances demanded. 

“ Come-a set nex’ em, lilly gal. I gwan tell you one tale.” 

1 Tear the earth. 2 Acquaintance. 


122 


BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE 

“Come ’long, Pinx,” said ’Tildy, tossing her head disdainfully, 
and taking the little boy by the hand. “Come ’long, Pinx; we 
better be gwine. I done say I won’t kill dat ole nigger man. Yit 
ef he start atter me dis blessid night, I lay I roust de whole plan¬ 
tation. Come on, honey; less go.” 

The little boy was not anxious to go, but Uncle Remus sec¬ 
onded ’Tildy’s suggestion. 

“Better let dat gal mosey ’long, honey, ’kaze she mout start in 
fer ter cut up some ’er capers in yer, en I hate mighty bad ter bus’ 
up dis yer axe-helve, w’ich I’m in needs un it eve’y hour er de 
day.” 

Whereupon the two old negroes were left sitting by the hearth. 


XXVII 

BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE 

’Tildy, the house-girl, made such a terrible report of the carry¬ 
ings on of Daddy Jack that the little boy’s mother thought it pru¬ 
dent not to allow him to visit Uncle Remus so often. The child 
amused himself as best he could for several nights, but his play¬ 
things and picture-books finally lost their interest. He cried so 
hard to be allowed to go to see Uncle Remus that his mother 
placed him under the care of Aunt Tempy, — a woman of large 
authority on the place, and who stood next to Uncle Remus in the 
confidence of her mistress. Aunt Tempy was a fat, middle-aged 
woman, who always wore a head-handkerchief, and kept her 
sleeves rolled up, displaying her plump, black arms, winter and 
su mm er. She never hesitated to exercise her authority, and the 
younger negroes on the place regarded her as a tyrant; but in 
spite of her loud voice and brusque manners she was thoroughly 
good-natured, usually good-humored, and always trustworthy. 
Aunt Tempy and Uncle Remus were secretly jealous of each 

123 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


other, but they were careful never to come in conflict, and, to all 
appearances, the most cordial relations existed between them. 

“Well de goodness knows!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, as Aunt 
Tempy went in with the little boy. “How you come on, Sis 
Tempy? De rainy season ain’t so mighty fur off w’en you come 
a-sojourneyin’ in dis house. Ef I’d a-know’d you’d a-bin a- 
comin’ I’d a-sorter steered ’roun’ en bresh’d de cobwebs out’n 
de cornders.” 

“Don’t min’ me, Brer Remus. Luck in de house whar de cob¬ 
webs hangs low. I ’uz des a-passin’ — a-passin’ ’long — en Miss 
Sally ax me ef I kin come fur ez de do’ wid dat chile dar, but bless 
you, ’t ain’t in my manners ter tu’n back at de do’. How you 
come on, Brer Remus?” 

“Po’ly, Sis Tempy; en yit I ain’t complainin’. Pain yer, en a 
ketch yander, wid de cramps th’ow’d in, ain’t no mo’ dan ole 
folks kin ’speck. How you is, Sis Tempy?” 

“I thank de Lord I’m able to crawl, Brer Remus, en dat’s ’bout 
all. Ef I wa’n’t so sot in my ways, deze yer niggers would er run 
me ’stracted d’reckly.” 

Daddy Jack was sitting in the corner laughing and talking to 
himself, and the little boy watched him not without a feeling of 
awe. After a while he said: — i 

“Uncle Remus, won’t Daddy Jack tell us a story to-night?” 

“Now, den, honey,” responded the old man, “we ain’t got ter 
push Brer Jack too closte; we ull des hatter creep up on ’im en 
ketch ’im fer er tale wence he in de humors. Sometimes hoss 
pull, sometime he ain’t pull. You ain’t bin down yer so long, 
hit sorter look lak it my tu’n; ’kaze it done come ’cross my 
’membunce dat dey wuz one time w’en Brer Wolf kotch Brer 
Rabbit, w’ich I ain’t never gun it out ter you yit.” 

“Brother Wolf caught Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?” ex¬ 
claimed the little boy, incredulously. 

“Yasser! dat’s de up en down un it, sho’,” responded the old 
124 


BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE 

man with emphasis, “en I be mighty glad ef Sis Tempy yer will 
’scuze me w’iles I runs over de tale ’long wid you.” 

“Bless yo’ soul, Brer Remus, don’t pay no ’tention ter me,” 
said Aunt Tempy, folding her fat arms upon her ample bosom, 
and assuming an attitude of rest and contentment. “I’m bad ez 
de chillun ’bout dem ole tales, ’kaze I kin des set up yer un lissen 
at um de whole blessid night, un a good part er de day. Yass, 
Lord!” 

“Well, den,” said Uncle Remus, “we ull des huddle up yer en 
see w’at ’come er Brer Rabbit, w’en ole Brer Wolf kotch ’im. In 
dem days,” he continued, looking at Daddy Jack and smiling 
broadly, “de creeturs wuz constant gwine a-courtin’. Ef ’t 
wa’n’t Miss Meadows en de gals dey wuz flyin’ ’roun’, hit ’uz 
Miss Motts. Dey wuz constant a-courtin’. En’t wa’n’t none er 
dish yer ‘Howdy-do-ma’m-I-’speck-I-better-be-gwine,’ n’er. Hit 
’uz go atter brekkus en stay twel atter supper. Brer Rabbit, he 
got tuk wid a-likin’ fer Miss Motts, en soon one mawnin’, he 
tuck’n slick hisse’f up, he did, en put out ter call on ’er. W’en 
Brer Rabbit git ter whar Miss Motts live, she done gone off 
some’rs. 

“Some folks ’ud er sot down en wait twel Miss Motts come 
back, en den ag’in some folks ’ud er tuck der foot in der han’ en 
went back; but ole Brer Rabbit, he ain’t de man fer ter be out¬ 
done, en he des tuck’n go in de kitchen en light he seegyar, 
en den he put out fer ter pay a call on Miss Meadows en de 
gals. 

“W’en he git dar, lo en beholes, he fine Miss Motts dar, en he 
tipped in, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he galanted ’roun’ ’mungs um, 
same lak one er dese yer town chaps, w at you see come out ter 
Harmony Grove meetin’-house. Dey talk en dey laff; dey laff en 
dey giggle. Bimeby, ’long todes night, Brer Rabbit ’low he better 
be gwine. De wimmen folks dey all ax ’im fer ter stay twel atter 
supper, ’kaze he sech lively comp’ny, but Brer Rabbit fear’d some 

125 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


er de yuther creeturs be hidin’ out fer ’im; so he tuck’n pay his 
’specks, he did, en start fer home. 

“He ain’t git fur twel he come up wid a great big basket settin’ 
down by de side er de big road. He look up de road; he ain’t see 
nobody. He look down de road; he ain’t see nobody. He look 
befo’, he look behime, he look all ’roun’; he ain’t see nobody. He 
lissen, en lissen; he ain’t year nothin’. He wait, en he wait; no¬ 
body ain’t come. 

“Den, bimeby Brer Rabbit go en peep in de basket, en it seem 
lak it half full er green truck. He retch he han’ in, he did, en git 
some en put it in he mouf. Den he shet he eye en do lak he 
studyin’ ’bout sump’n’. Atter w’ile, he ’low ter hisse’f, ‘Hit look 
lak sparrer-grass, hit feel lak sparrer-grass, hit tas’e lak sparrer- 
grass, en I be bless ef’t ain’t sparrer-grass.’ 

“Wid dat Brer Rabbit jump up, he did, en crack he heel ter- 
gedder, en he fetch one leap en lan’ in de basket, right spang in 
’mungs de sparrer-grass. Dar whar he miss he footin’,” continued 
Uncle Remus, rubbing his beard meditatively, “’kaze w’en he 
jump in ’mungs de sparrer-grass, right den en dar he jump in 
’mungs ole Brer Wolf, w’ich he wer’ quile up at de bottom.” 

“Dar now!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically. “ W’at 
I tell you? W’at make him pester t’er folks doin’s? I boun’ Brer 
Wolf nail’t ’im.” 

“Time Brer Wolf grab ’im,” continued Uncle Remus, “Brer 
Rabbit knowed he ’uz a gone case; yit he sing out, he did: — 

“‘I des tryin’ ter skeer you, Brer Wolf; I des tryin’ ter skeer 
you. I know’d you ’uz in dar, Brer Wolf, I know’d you by de 
smell! ’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“Ole Brer Wolf grin, he did, en lick he chops, en up’n 
say: — 

“‘Mighty glad you know’d me, Brer Rabbit, ’kaze I know’d 
you des time you drapt in on me. I tuck’n tell Brer Fox yistiddy 
dat I ’uz gwine take a nap ’longside er de road, en I boun’ you ’ud 

126 


BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE 


come ’long en wake me up, en sho’ nuff, yer you come en yer you 
is,’ sez Brer Wolf, sezee. 

“Oh-ho, Mr. Rabbit! How you feel now?” exclaimed Aunt 
Tempy, her sympathies evidently with Brother Wolf. 

“W’en Brer Rabbit year dis,” said Uncle Remus, paying no 
attention to the interruption, “he ’gun ter git mighty skeer’d, en 
he whirl in en beg Brer Wolf fer ter please tu’n ’im loose; but dis 
make Brer Wolf grin wusser, en he toof look so long en shine so 
w’ite, en he gum look so red, dat Brer Rabbit hush up en stay 
still. He so skeer’d dat he bref come quick, en he heart go lak flut¬ 
ter-mill. He chune up lak he gwine cry: — 

“‘Whar you gwine kyar me, Brer Wolf?’ 

“‘Down by de branch, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘W’at you gwine down dar fer, Brer Wolf?’ 

“‘So I kin git some water ter clean you wid atter I done skunt 
you, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘Please, sir, lemme go, Brer Wolf.’ 

“‘You talk so young you make me laff, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘Dat sparrer-grass done make me sick, Brer Wolf.’ 

“‘You’ll be sicker’n dat ’fo’ I git done wid you, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“ ‘ Whar I come fum nobody dast ter eat sick folks, Brer Wolf.’ 

“ ‘ Whar I come fum dey ain’t dast ter eat no yuther kin’, Brer 
Rabbit.’” 

“Ole Mr. Rabbit wuz a-talkin’, mon,” said Aunt Tempy, with 
a chuckle that caused her to shake like a piece of jelly. 

“Dey went on dis a-way,” continued Uncle Remus, “plum 
twel dey git ter de branch. Brer Rabbit, he beg en cry, en cry en 
beg, en Brer Wolf, he ’fuse en grin, en grin en ’fuse. W’en dey 
come ter de branch, Brer Wolf lay Brer Rabbit down on de groun’ 
en hilt ’im dar, en den he study how he gwine make way wid ’im. 
He study en he study, en w’iles he studyin’ Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n 
study some on he own hook. 

“Den w’en it seem lak Brer Wolf done fix all de ’rangerments, 
127 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


Brer Rabbit, he make lak he cry in’ wusser en wusser; he des 
fa’rly blubber.” 

Uncle Remus gave a ludicrous imitation of Brother Rabbit’s 
wailings. 

“ ‘Ber — ber — Brer Wooly —- ooly — oolf! Is you gwine — 
is you gwine ter sakerfice-t me right now — ow — ow?’ 

“‘Dat I is, Brer Rabbit; dat I is.’ 

“ 4 Well, ef I blee-eedz ter be kilt, Brer Wooly — ooly — oolf, I 
wants ter be kilt right, en ef I blee-eedz ter be e’t, I wants ter be 
e’t ri — ight, too, now! ’ 

“‘How dat, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘I want you ter show yo’ p’liteness, Brer Wooly — ooly — 
oolf!’ 

“‘How I gwine do dat, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘I want you ter say grace, Brer Wolf, en say it quick, ’kaze I 
gittin’ mighty weak.’ 

“‘How I gwine say grace, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘Fol’ yo’ han’s und’ yo’ chin, Brer Wolf, en shet yo’ eyes, en 
say: “Bless us en bine us, en put us in crack whar de Ole Boy 
can’t fine us.” Say it quick, Brer Wolf, ’kaze I failin’ mighty 
fas’.’” 

“Now ain’t dat des too much!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, as 
delighted as the little boy. Uncle Remus laughed knowingly and 
went on: — 

“Brer Wolf, he put up he han’s, he did, en shot he eyes, en ’low, 
‘Bless us en bine us;’ but he ain’t git no furder, ’kaze des time he 
take up he han’s, Brer Rabbit fotch a wiggle, he did, en lit on he 
foots, en he des nat’ally lef’ a blue streak behime ’im.” 

“ Ah-yi-ee! ” exclaimed Daddy Jack, while Aunt Tempy allowed 
her arms to drop helplessly from her lap as she cried “Dar now!” 
and the little boy clasped his hands in an ecstasy of admiration. 

“Oh, I just knew Brother Rabbit would get away,” the child 
declared. 


128 





BRER RABBIT FOTCH A WIGGLE, HE DID, EN LIT ON HE FOOTS 













































* 
































































































































SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN 

“Dat’s right, honey,” said Uncle Remus. “You put yo’ pen- 
nunce in Brer Rabbit en yo’ won’t be fur out er de way.” 

There was some further conversation among the negroes, but 
it was mostly plantation gossip. When Aunt Tempy rose to go 
she said: — 

“Goodness knows, Brer Remus, ef dis de way you all runs on, 
I’m gwine ter pester you some mo’. Hit come ’cross me like ole 
times, dat it do.” 

“Do so, Sis Tempy, do so,” said Uncle Remus, with dignified 
hospitality. “You allers fine a place at my h’a’th. Ole times is 
about all we got lef’.” 

“Trufe, too!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy; and with that she took 
the child by the hand and went out into the darkness. 


XXVIII 

SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN 

It was not many nights before the same company was gathered 
in Uncle Remus’s cabin, — Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the 
little boy. The conversation took a turn that thrilled the child 
with mingled fear and curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired as to 
the state of Aunt Tempy’s health, when the latter came in, and 
her response was: — 

“I feelin’ mighty creepy, Brer Remus, sho’. Look like I bleedz 
ter hunt comp’ny. W’en I come ’long down I felt dat skittish twel 
ef a leaf had blow’d ’crost de paff, I’d ’a’ des about drapt in my 
tracks.” 

“How come dat, Sis Tempy?” Uncle Remus inquired. 

“You know dat little gal er Riah’s? Well, I ’uz settin’ up dar 
in my house ’w’ile ergo, w’en, bless gracious! fus’ news I know, I 
year dat chile talkin’ in the yuther room. I ’low ter myse’f, she 
ain’t talkin’ ter Riah, ’kaze Riah ain’t come yit, un den I crope 

129 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


up, dar wuz de chile settin’ right flat in de middle er de flo\ 
laffln’ un talkin’ un makin’ motions like she see somebody in de 
cornder. I des stood dar un watch ’er, un I ain’t a livin’ human 
ef she don’t do like dey ’uz somebody er n’er in dar wid ’er. She 
ax um fer ter stay on dey own side, un den, w’en it seem like dey 
come todes ’er, den she say she gwine git a switch un drive um 
back. Hit make me feel so cole un kuse dat I des tuck’n come 
’way fum dar, un ef dey’s sump’n’ n’er dar, hit’ll be dem un Riah 
fer’t.” 

“’E do talk wid ghos’; ’e is bin larf wit’ harnt,” exclaimed 
Daddy Jack. 

“I ’speck dat’s ’bout de upshot un it,” said Uncle Remus. 
“Dey tells me dat w’ence you year chilluns talkin’ en gwine on 
periently wid deyse’f, der er bleedz ter see ha’nts.” 

The little boy moved his stool closer to his venerable partner. 
Daddy Jack roused himself. 

“Oona no bin-a see dem ghos’? Oona no bin-a see dem harnt? 
Hi! I is bin-a see plenty ghos’; I no ’fraid dem; I is bin-a punch 
dem ’way wit’ me cane. I is bin-a shoo dem ’pon dey own sied 
da’ road. Dem is bin walk w’en da’ moon stan’ low; den I is bin 
shum. Oona no walk wit’ me dun. ’E berry bahd. Oona call, dey 
no answer. Wun dey call, hoi’ you’ mout’ shet. ’E berry bahd fer 
mek answer, wun da’ harnt holler. Dem call-a you ’way fum dis 
lan’. I yeddy dem call; I shetty me y-eye, I shekkey me head. 

“Wun I is bin noung mahn, me der go fer git water, un wun I 
der dip piggin ’neat’ da’ crik, I yeddy v’ice fer call me — ‘ Jahck! 
0 Jahck T I stan’, I lissen, I yeddy de v’ice — 'Jahck! Jahck! 0 
Jahck!' I t’ink ’e bin Titty Ann; 1 1 ahx um: — 

“‘Wey you bin call-a me, Titty Ann?’ Titty Ann ’tretch ’e 
y-eye big: — \ 

“ ‘ I no bin-a call. Dead ghos’ is bin-a call. Dem harnt do call-a 
you.’ 

1 Sissy Ann. 

130 


SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN 

“Dun I rise me y-eye, un I is bin shum gwan by sundown; ’e is 
bin gwan bahckwud. I tell Titty Ann fer look at we nuncle, 
gwan bahckwud by sundown. Titty Ann pit ’e two han’ ’pon me 
y-eyes, en ’e do bline me. ’E say I bin-a see one dead ghos’.” 

“What then, Daddy Jack?” asked the little boy, as the old 
African paused. ? 

“Ki! nuff dun., *Kaze bumbye, so long tarn, folks come fetch-a 
we nuncle ’tretch out. ’E is bin-a tek wit’ da’ he cup; ’e trow ’e 
head dis way; ’e t’row ’e head dat way.” Daddy Jack comically 
suited the action to the word. “’E is bin tek-a da’ he cup; da’ he - 
cup is bin tek um — da’ cramp is bin fetch um. I is bin see mo’ 
dead ghos’, but me no spot um lak dis.” 

“I boun’ you is,” said Uncle Remus. “Dey tells.me,'Brer 
Jack,” he continued, “dat w’en you meets up wid one er deze 
ha’nts, ef you’ll take’n tu’n yo’ coat wrong-sud-outerds, dey 
won’t use no time in makin’ der disappearance.” 

“Hey!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, “tu’n coat no fer skeer dead 
ghos\ ’E skeer dem Jack-me-Lantun. One tarn I is bin-a mek me 
way troo t’ick swamp. I do come hot, I do come cole. I feel-a me 
bahck quake; me bre’t’ come fahs’. I look; me ent see nuttin’; 
I lissen; me ent yeddy nuttin’. I look, dey de Jack-me-Lantun 
mekkin ’e way troo de bush; ’e cornin’ stret by me. ’E light bin-a 
flick-flicker; ’e git close un close. I yent kin stan’ dis; one foot git 
heffy, da’ heer ’pon me head lif’ up. Da’ Jack-me-Lantun, ’e 
git-a high, ’e git-a low, ’e come close. Dun I t’ink I bin-a yeddy 
ole folks talk tu’n you 9 coat-sleef wun da’ Jack-me-Lantun is bin 
run you. I pull, I twis’, I yerk at dem jacket;’e yent come. ’E is 
bin grow on me bahck. Jack-me-Lantun fly close. I say me pray 
’pon da’ jacket; ’e is bin-a yerk loose; da’ sleef ’e do tu’n. Jack- 
me-Lantun, ’e see dis, ’e lif’ up, ’e say ( Phew!’ ’E done gone! 
Oona no walk in da’ swamp ’cep’ you is keer you’ coat ’cross da’ 
arm. Enty!” 

“Dat w’at make me say,” remarked Aunt Tempy, with a little 

131 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


shiver, “dat ’oman like me, w’at ain’t w’ar no jacket, ain’t got no 
business traipsin’ un trollopin’ ’roun’ thoo the woods atter 
dark.” 

“You mout tu’n yo’ head-hankcher, Sis Tempy,” said Uncle 
Remus, reassuringly, “en ef dat ain’t do no good den you kin 
whirl in en gin um leg-bail.” 

“I year tell,” continued Aunt Tempy, vouchsafing no reply to 
Uncle Remus, “ dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is a sho’ nuff sperit. 
Sperits ain?t gwine to walk un walk less’n dey got sump’n’ n’er 
on der min’, un I year tell dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is 
’casioned by a man w’at got kilt. Folks kilt ’im un tuck his money, 
un now his ha’nt done gone un got a light fer ter hunt up whar his 
money is. Mighty kuse ef folks kin hone atter money w’en dey 
done gone . 1 dunner w’at he wanter be ramblin’ ’roun’ wid a light 
w’en he done dead . Ef anybody got any hard feelin’s ’gin’ me, 
I want um ter take it out w’ile deyer in de flesh; w’en dey come 
a-ha’ntin’ me, den I’m done — I’m des done .” 

“Are witches spirits?” the little boy asked. 

The inquiry was not especially directed at Daddy Jack, but 
Daddy Jack was proud of his reputation as a witch, and he un¬ 
dertook to reply. 

“None’t all. Witch, ’e no dead ghos’ — ’e life folks, wey you 
shekky han’ wit’. Oona witch mebbe; how you is kin tell?” 

Here Daddy Jack turned his sharp little eyes upon the child. 
The latter moved closer to Uncle Remus, and said he hoped to 
goodness he was n’t a witch. 

“How you is kin tell diffran ’cep’ you bin fer try um?” con¬ 
tinued Daddy Jack. “’E good t’ing fer be witch; ’e mek-a dem 
folks fred. ’E mek-a dem fred; ’e mek-a dem hoi’ da’ bre’t’, wun 
dey is bin-a come by you’ place.” 

“In de name er de Lord, Daddy Jack, how kin folks tell wh’er 
dey er witches er no?” asked Aunt Tempy. 

“Oo! ’e easy nuff. Wun da’ moon is shiiin low, wet-a you’ han’ 
132 


SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN 

wit’ da’ pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer ’pon ’e nose; git ’pon 
’e bahck. Mus’ hoi’ um by ’e year; mus’ go gallop, gallop down 
da’ lane, tel ’e do come ’cross one-a big gully. Mus’ holler, 

‘ Double, double, double up ! double, double, double up! ’ Heifer jump, 
oona witch; heifer no jump, oona no witch.” 

“Did you ever ride a heifer, Daddy Jack?” asked the little 
boy. 

“Mo’ tam es dem,” replied the old negro, holding up the 
crooked fingers of one withered hand. 

“Did — did she jump across the big gully?” 

The child’s voice had dropped to an awed whisper, and there 
was a glint of malicious mischief in Daddy Jack’s shrewd eyes, 
as he looked up at Uncle Remus. He got his cue. Uncle Remus 
groaned heavily and shook his head. 

“Hoo!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, “wun I is bin-a tell all, dey 
no mo’ fer tell. Mus’ kip some fer da’ Sunday. Lilly b’y no fred 
dem witch; ’e no bodder lilly b’y. Witch, ’e no rassel wit’ ’e ebry- 
day ’quaintan’; ’e do go pars ’e own place.” 

It was certainly reassuring for the child to be told that witches 
did n’t trouble little boys, and that they committed their depre¬ 
dations outside of their own neighborhood. 

“I is bin-a yeddy dem talk ’bout ole witch. ’E do leaf ’e skin 
wey ’e is sta’t fum. Man bin-a come pars by; ’e is fine dem skin. 
’E say:— 

“‘Ki! ’E one green skin; I fix fer dry um.’ 

“Man hang um by da’ fier. Skin, ’e do swink, i’ do swivel. 
Bumbye ’e do smell-a bahd; man, ’e hoi’ ’e nose. ’E do wait. 
Skin swink, skin stink, skin swivel. ’E do git so bahd, man pitch 
um in da’ ya’d. ’E wait; ’e is wait, ’e is lissen. Bumbye, ’e yeddy 
da’ witch come. Witch, e’ do sharp’ ’e claw on-a da’ fence; ’e is 
snap ’e jaw — flick ! flick! flick ! ’E come-a hunt fer him skin. ’E 
fineum. ’E trey um on dis way;’e no fit. ’E trey um on dat way; 
’e no fit. ’E trey um on turrer way; ’e no fit. ’E pit um ’pon ’e 

133 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


head; skin ’e no fit. ’E pit um ’pon ’e foot; skin ’e no fit. ’E cuss, 
’e sweer; skin ’e no fit. ’E cut ’e caper; skin ’e no fit. Bumbye ’e 
holler: — 

“‘’Tiss-a me, Skin! wey you no know me? Skin, ’tiss-a me! 
wey you no know me?’ 

“Skin, ’e no talk nuttin’ ’tall. Witch ’e do jump, ’e do holler; 
a mek no diffran. Skin ’e talk nuttin’ ’tall. Man, ’e tekky to’ch, 
’e look in ya’d. ’E see big blahck Woolf lay by da’ skin. E toof 
show; ’e y-eye shiiin. Man drife um ’way; ’e is come bahck. Man 
bu’n da’ skin; ’e is bin-a come bahck no mo’.” 

The little boy asked no more questions. He sat silent while the 
others talked, and then went to the door and looked out. It was 
very dark, and he returned to his stool with a troubled coun¬ 
tenance. 

“Des wait a little minnit, honey,” said Uncle Remus, dropping 
his hand caressingly on the child’s shoulder. “I bleedz ter go up 
dar ter de big house fer ter see Mars John, en I’ll take you ’long 
fer comp’ny.” 

And so, after a while, the old man and the little boy went hand 
in hand up the path. 


XXIX 

A GHOST STORY 

The next time the little boy visited Uncle Remus he persuaded 
’Tildy to go with him. Daddy Jack was in his usual place, dozing 
and talking to himself, while Uncle Remus oiled the carriage- 
harness,_ After a while Aunt Tempy came in. 

The conversation turned on Daddy Jack’s story about 
“haunts” and spirits. Finally ’Tildy said: — 

“ W’en it come ter tales ’bout ha’nts,” said she, “I year tell er 
one dat’ll des nat’ally make de kinks on yo’ head onquile deyse’f.” 

134 


A GHOST STORY 


“W’at tale dat, chile?” asked Aunt Tempy. 

“link’ Remus, mus’ I tell it?” 

“Let ’er come,” said Uncle Remus. 

“Well, den,” said ’Tildy, rolling her eyes back and displaying 
her white teeth, “one time dey wuz a ’Oman en a Man. Seem like 
dey live close ter one er n’er, en de Man he sot his eyes on de 
’Oman, en de ’Oman, she des went ’long en ’ten’ ter her bizness. 
Man, he keep his eyes sot on ’er. Bimeby, de ’Oman, she ’ten’ ter 
her bizness so much tel she tuck’n tuck sick en die. Man, he up’n 
tell de folks she dead, en de folks dey come en fix ’er. Dey lay ’er 
out, en dey light some candles, en dey sot up wid ’er, des like folks 
does now; en dey put two great big roun’ shiny silver dollars on 
’er eyes fer ter hoi’ ’er eyeleds down.” 

In describing the silver dollars ’Tildy joined the ends of her 
thumbs and fore-fingers together, and made a figure as large as 
a saucer. 

“Dey wuz lots bigger dan dollars is deze days,” she continued, 
“en dey look mighty purty. Seem like dey wuz all de money de 
’Oman got, en de folks dey put um on ’er eyeleds fer to hoi’ um 
down. Den w’en de folks do dat dey call up de Man en take’n tell 
’im dat he mus’ dig a grave en bury de ’Oman, en den dey all 
went off ’bout der bizness. 

“Well, den, de Man, he tuck’n dig de grave en make ready fer 
ter bury de ’Oman. He look at dat money on ’er eyeleds, en it 
shine mighty purty. Den he tuck it off en feel it. Hit feel mighty 
good, but des ’bout dat time de Man look at de ’Oman, en he see 
’er eyeleds open. Look like she lookin’ at ’im, en he take’n put de 
money whar he git it fum. 

“Well, den, de Man, he take’n git a waggin en haul de ’Oman 
out ter de buryin’-groun’, en w’en he git dar he fix ever’thing, en 
den he grab de money en kivver up de grave right quick. Den he 
go home, en put de money in a tin box en rattle it ’roun.’ Hit 
rattle loud en hit rattle nice, but de Man, he ain’t feel so good. 

135 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


Seem like he know de ’Oman eyeled stretch wide open lookin’ fer 
’im. Yit he rattle de money ’roun’, en hit rattle loud en hit rattle 
nice. 

“ Well, den, de Man, he take’n put de tin box w’at de money 
in on de mantel-shel-uf. De day go by, en de night come, en 
w’en night come de win’ ’gun ter rise up en blow. Hit rise high, 
hit blow strong. Hit blow on top er de house, hit blow und’ de 
house, hit blow ’roun’ de house. Man, he feel quare. He set by de 
fier en lissen. Win’ say ‘ Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o! ’ Man lissen. Win’ 
holler en cry. Hit blow top er de house, hit blow und’ de house, 
hit blow ’roun’ de house, hit blow in de house. Man git closte up 
in de chimbly-jam. Win’ fin’ de cracks en blow in um. ‘ Bizzy , 
bizzy, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o! ’ 

“Well, den, Man, he lissen, lissen, but bimeby he git tired er 
dis, en he ’low ter hisse’f dat he gwine ter bed. He tuck’n fling a 
fresh fight’d knot in de fier, en den he jump in de bed, en quile 
hisse’f up en put his head und’ de kiwer. Win’ hunt fer de cracks 
— bizzy-buzz , bizzy-buzz, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o-o! Man keep his head 
und’ de kiwer. Light’d knot flar’ up en flicker. Man ain’t dast 
ter move. Win’ blow en w’issel Phew-fee-e-e-e! Light’d knot 
flicker en flar’. Man, he keep his head kiwud. 

“W T ell, den, Man lay dar, en git skeer’der en skeer’der. He 
ain’t dast ter wink his eye skacely, en seem like he gwine ter have 
swamp agur. W’iles he layin’ dar shakin’, en de win’ a-blowin’, 
en de fier flickin’, he year someyuther kind er fuss. Hit mighty 
kuse kind er fuss. Clinkity , clinkalinkle ! Man ’low: — 

“‘Hey! who stealin’ my money?’ 

“Yit he keep his head kiwud w’iles he lay en lissen. He year 
de win’ blow, en den he year dat yuther kinder fuss — Clinkity , 
clink, clinkity , clinkalinkle! Well, den, he fling off de kiwer en 
sot right up in de bed. He look, he ain’t see nothin’. De fier 
flicker en flar’ en de win’ blow. Man go en put chain en bar 
’cross de do’. Den he go back to bed, en he ain’t mo’n totch his 

136 


A GHOST STORY 

head on de piller tel he year de yuther fuss — clink, clink, clinkity, 
clinkalinkle 1 Man rise up, he ain’t see nothin’ ’tall. Mighty 
quare! 

“Des ’bout time he gwine ter lay down ’g’in, yer come de fuss 
— clinkity, clinkalinkle. Hit soun’ like it on de mantel-shel-uf; 
let ’lone dat, hit soun’ like it in de tin box on de mantel-shel-uf; 
let ’lone dat, hit soun’ like it de money in de tin box on de man¬ 
tel-shel-uf. Man say: — 

“‘Hey! rat done got in box!’ 

“ Man look; no rat dar. He shet up de box, en set it down on de 
shel-uf. Time he do dat yer come de fuss— clinkity, clinkity, 
clinkalinkle l Man open de box en look at de money. Dem two 
silver dollars layin’ in dar des like he put um. W’iles de man dun 
dis, look like he kin year sump’n’ say ’way off yander: — 
“‘Whar my money? Oh, gim me my money!' 

“Man, he sot de box back on de shel-uf, en time he put it down 
he year de money rattle — clinkity, clinkalinkle, clink l — en den 
fum ’way off yander sump’n’ say: — 

‘“Oh, gim me my money! I want my money!' 

“Well, den, de Man git skeer’d sho’ nuff, en he got er flat-itin 
en put on de tin box, en den he tuck’n pile all de cheers ’gin’ de 
do’, en run en jump in de bed. He des know dey’s a booger cornin’. 
Time he git in bed en kiwer his head, de money rattle louder, en 
sump’n’ cry way off yander: — 

‘“I want my money! Oh, gim me my money!' 

“Man, he shake en he shiver; money, hit clink en rattle; 
booger, hit holler en cry. Booger come closter, money clink 
louder. Man shake wusser en wusser. Money say: ‘ Clinkity , 
clinkalinkle!' Booger cry, ‘ Oh, gim me my money!' Man holler, 
‘0 Lordy, Lordy!' 

“Well, den, hit keep on dis a-way,tel dreckly Man year de do’ 
open. He peep fum und’ de kiwer, en in walk de ’Oman w’at he 
done bury in de buryin’-groun’. Man shiver en shiver, win’ blow 

137 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


en blow, money rattle en rattle, ’Oman cry en cry. ‘ Buzz-zoo- 
o-o-o-o!’ sez de win’; ‘ ClinkalinkI ’ sezde box; 6 Oh, gimme my 
money! 9 sez de ’Oman; ( 0 Lordy!' sezde Man. ’Omanyear de 
money, but look like she ain’t kin see, en she grope ’roun’, en 
grope ’roun’, en grope ’roun’ wid ’er han’ h’ist in de a’r des dis 
away.” 

Here ’Tildy stood up, pushed her chair back with her foot, 
raised her arms over her head, and leaned forward in the direction 
of Daddy Jack. 

“Win’ blow, fier flicker, money rattle, Man shake en shiver, 
’Oman grope ’roun’ en say, ‘Gim me my money! Oh, who got my 
money? ’ ” 

’Tildy advanced a few steps. 

“Money look like it gwine ter t’ar de tin box all ter flinders. 
’Oman grope en cry, grope en cry, tel bimeby she jump on de man 
en holler: — 

“'You got my money! ’ ” 

As she reached this climax, ’Tildy sprang at Daddy Jack and 
seized him, and for a few moments there was considerable con¬ 
fusion in the corner. The little boy was frightened, but the col¬ 
lapsed appearance of Daddy Jack convulsed him with laughter. 
The old African was very angry. His little eyes glistened with 
momentary malice, and he shook his cane threateningly at ’Tildy. 
The latter coolly adjusted her ear-rings, as she exclaimed: — 

“Dar, now! I know’d I’d git even wid de ole vilyun. Come 
a-callin’ me pidjin-toed!” 

“Better keep yo’ eye on ’im, chile,” said Aunt Tempy. “He 
’witch you, sho’.” 

“’Witch who? Ef he come witchin’ roun’ me, I lay I break his 
back. I tell you dat right pine-blank.” 


r other nmbbit 



groxn er py 
5m d hbs porous 



























XXX 

BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT 


The little boy was very glad, one night shortly after he had 
heard about Daddy Jack’s ghosts and witches and ’Tildy’s 
“ha’nts,” to find Uncle Remus alone in his cabin. The child liked 
to have his venerable partner all to himself. Uncle Remus was 
engaged in hunting for tobacco crumbs with which to fill his pipe, 
and in turning his pockets a rabbit foot dropped upon the hearth. 

“Grab it, honey!” he exclaimed. “Snatch it up off’n de h’a’th. 
In de name er goodness, don’t let it git in de embers; ’kaze ef dat 
ar rabbit foot git singe, I’m a goner, sho’! ” 

It was the hind foot of a rabbit, and a very large one at that, 
and the little boy examined it curiously. He was in thorough 
sympathy with all the superstitions of the negroes, and to him 
the rabbit foot appeared to be an uncanny affair. He placed it 
carefully on Uncle Remus’s knee, and after the pipe had been 
filled, he asked: — 

“What do you carry that for. Uncle Remus?” 

“Well, honey,” responded the old man, grimly, “ef you want 
me ter make shorts out’n a mighty long tale, dat rabbit foot is 
fer ter keep off boogers. W’en I hatter run er’n’s fer myse’f all 
times er night, en take nigh cuts thoo de woods, en ’cross by de 
buryin’-groun’, hits monst’us handy fer ter have dat ar rabbit 
foot. Keep yo’ head studdy, now; mine yo’ eye; I ain’t sayin’ 
deyer any boogers anywhars. Brer Jack kin say w’at he mineter; 
I ain’t sayin’ nothin’. But yit, ef dey wuz any, en dey come slink- 
in’ atter me, I let you know dey’d fine out terreckly dat de ole 
nigger heel’d wid rabbit foot. I ’ud hoi’ it up des dis a-way, en I 
boun’ you I’d shoo um off’n de face er de yeth. En I tell you 

141 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


w’at,” continued Uncle Remus, seeing that the little boy was 
somewhat troubled, “w’en it come to dat pass dat you gotter be 
dodgin’ ’roun’ in de dark, ef you’ll des holler fer me, I’ll loan you 
dish yer rabbit foot, en you ’ll be des ez safe ez you is w’en Miss 
Sally stannin’ by yo’ bed wid a lit can’le in ’er han’. 

“Strip er red flannil tied ’roun’ yo’ arm’ll keep off de rheumatis; 
stump-water ’ll kyo ’spepsy; some good fer one ’zeeze, 1 en some 
good fer n’er, but de p’ints is dat dish yer rabbit foot ’ll gin you 
good luck. De man w’at tote it mighty ap’ fer ter come out right 
een’ up w’en dey’s any racket gwine on in de neighborhoods, let 
’er be whar she will en w’en she may; mo’ espeshually ef de man 
w’at got it know ’zactly w’at he got ter do. W’ite folks may 
laugh,” Uncle Remus went on, “but w’en rabbit run ’cross de big 
road front er me, w’at does I do? Does I shoo at um? Does I 
make fer ter kill um? Dat I don’t — dat I don’t! I des squots 
right down in de middle er de road, en I makes a cross-mark in de 
san’ des dis way, en den I spits in it.” 2 

Uncle Remus made a practical illustration by drawing a cross¬ 
mark in the ashes on the hearth. 

“Well, but, Uncle Remus, what good does all this do?” the 
little boy asked. 

“Lots er good, honey; bless yo’ soul, lots er good. W’en rabbit 
crosses yo’ luck, w’at you gwine do, less’n you sets down en 
crosses it out, right den en dar? I year talk er folks shootin’ 
rabbit in de big road, yit I notices dat dem w’at does de shootin’ 
ain’t come ter no good een’ — dat w’at I notices.” 

“Uncle Remus,” the little boy asked, after a while, “how did 
people happen to find out about the rabbit’s foot?” 

t “Oh, you let folks ’lone fer dat, honey! You des let um ’lone. 

1 Disease. 

2 If, as some ethnologists claim, the animal myths are relics of zootheism, there can 
scarcely be a doubt that the practice here described by Uncle Remus is the survival of 
some sort of obeisance or genuflexion by which the negroes recognized the presence of 
the Rabbit, the great central figure and wonder-worker of African mythology. 

142 


BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT 


W’at de wimmen ain’t up’n tell bidout anybody axin’ un um, 
folks mighty ap’ fer ter fine out fer deyse’f. De wimmen, dey 
does de talkin’ en de flyin’, en de mens, dey does de walkin’ en de 
pryin’, en betwixt en betweenst um, dey ain’t much dat don’t 
come out. Ef it don’t come out one day it do de nex’, en so she 
goes — Ant’ny over, Ant’ny under — up one row en down de 
udder, en clean acrosst de bolly-patch! ” 

It may be that the child did n’t understand all this, but he had 
no doubt of its wisdom, and so he waited patiently for develop¬ 
ments. 

“Dey’s a tale ’bout de rabbit foot,” continued Uncle Remus, 
“but yo’ eye look watery, like ole man Nod ’bout ter slip up be- 
hime you; en let ’lone dat, I ’speck Miss Sally clock clickin’ fer 
you right now.” 

“Oh, no, it isn’t, Uncle Remus,” said the child, laughing. 
“Mamma said she’d make ’Tildy call me.” 

“Dar, now!” exclaimed the old man, indignantly, “’Tildy dis 
en ’Tildy dat. I dunner w’at yo’ mammy dreamin’ ’bout fer ter 
let dat nigger gal be a-holl’in’ en a-bawlin’ atter you all ’roun’ dish 
yer plan’ation. She de mos’ uppity nigger on de hill, en de fus’ 
news you know dey ull all hatter make der bows en call ’er Mistiss. 
Ef ole Miss wuz ’live, dey would n’t be no sech gwines on ’roun’ 
yer. But nummine. 1 You des let ’er come a-cuttin’ up front er 
my do’, en I lay you’ll year squallin’. Now, den,” continued 
the old man, settling himself back in his chair, “wharbouts 
wuz I?” 

“You said there was a tale about the rabbit foot,” the little boy 
replied. 

“So dey is, honey! so dey is!” Uncle Remus exclaimed, “but 
she got so many crooks en tu’ns in ’er dat I dunner but w’at I ain’t 
done gone en fergotted some un um off’n my min’; ’kaze ole folks 
lak me knows lots mo’ dan w’at dey kin ’member. 

1 Never mind. 

143 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“In de days w’ence Brer Rabbit wuz sorter keepin’ de neighbor¬ 
hoods stirred up, de yuther ereeturs wuz studyin’ en studyin’ de 
whole blessid time how dey gwine ter nab ’im. Dey ain’t had no 
holiday yit, ’kaze w’en de holiday come, dey’d go ter wuk, dey 
would, en juggle wid one er n’er fer ter see how dey gwine ter 
ketch up wid Brer Rabbit. Bimeby, w’en all der plans, en der 
traps, en der jugglements ain’t do no good, dey all ’gree, dey did, 
dat Brer Rabbit got some cunjerment w’at he trick um wid. Brer 
B’ar, he up’n ’low, he did, dat he boun’ Brer Rabbit is a nat’al 
bawn witch; Brer Wolf say, sezee, dat he ’speck Brer Rabbit des 
in cahoots wid a witch; en Brer Fox, he vow dat Brer Rabbit got 
mo’ luck dan smartness. Den Jedge B’ar, he drap he head one 
side, he did, en he ax how come Brer Rabbit got all de luck on he 
own side. De mo’ dey ax, de mo’ dey git pestered, en de mo’ dey 
git pestered, de wuss dey worry. Day in en day out dey wuk wid 
dis puzzlement; let ’lone dat, dey sot up nights; en bimeby dey 
’gree ’mungs deyse’f dat dey better make up wid Brer Rabbit, en 
see ef dey can’t fine out how come he so lucky. 

“ W’iles all dis gwine on, ole Brer Rabbit wuz a-gallopin’ ’roun’ 
fum Funtown ter Frolicville, a-kickin’ up de devilment en terrify- 
in’ de neighborhoods. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel one time, en¬ 
durin’ de odd-come-shorts, 1 ole Jedge B’ar sont wud dat one er his 
chilluns done bin tooken wid a sickness, en he ax won’t ole Miss 
Rabbit drap ’roun’ en set up wid ’im. Ole Miss Rabbit, she say, 
co’se she go, en atter she fill ’er satchy full er yerbs en truck, off 
she put. 

“I done fergit,” said Uncle Remus, scratching his head gravely, 
“w’ich one er dem chilluns wuz ailin’. Hit mout er bin Kubs, en 
hit mout er bin Klibs; but no marter fer dat. W’en ole Miss 
Rabbit git dar, ole Miss B’ar wuz a-settin’ up in de chimbly- 
cornder des a-dosin’ en a-nussin’ de young un; en all de wimmin er 

1 Sometime, any time, no time. Thus: “Run fetch me de ax, en IT wait on you one 
er deze odd-come-shorts.” 


144 


BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT 


de neighborhoods wuz dar, a-whispun en a-talkin’, des fer all de 
worl’ lak wimmin does deze days. It ’uz: — 

“‘Come right in, Sis Rabbit! I mighty proud to see you. I 
mighty glad you fotch yo’ knittin’, ’kaze I’m pow’ful po’ com- 
p’ny w’en my chillun sick. Des fling yo’ bonnet on de bed dar. 
I’m dat flustrated twel I dunner w’ich een’s up, skacely. Sis Wolf, 
han’ Sis Rabbit dat rickin’-cheer dar, ’kaze’t ain’t no one step 
fum her house ter mine.’ 

“Dat de way ole Miss B’ar run on,” continued Uncle Remus, 
“en dey set dar en dey chatter en dey clatter. Ole Brer Wolf, he 
’uz settin’ out on de back peazzer smokin’ en noddin’. He ’ud take 
en draw a long whiff, he would, en den he ’ud drap off ter noddin’ 
en let de smoke oozle out thoo he nose. Bimeby ole Sis Rabbit 
drap ’er knittin’ in ’er lap, en sing out, sez she: — 

“ ‘Law, Sis B’ar! I smells ’barker smoke,’ sez she. 

“Ole Sis B’ar, she jolt up de sick baby, en swap it fum one knee 
ter de yuther, en ’low: — 

“ ‘My ole man bin smokin’ ’roun’ yer de whole blessid day, but 
soon’z dish yer chile tuck sick, I des tuck’n tole ’im, sez I, fer ter 
take hisse’f off in de woods whar he b’long at, sez I. Yessum! I 
did dat! I pities any ’oman w’at ’er ole man is fer’verlastin’ stuck 
’roun’ de house w’en dey’s any sickness gwine on,’ sez she. 

“Ole Brer Wolf sot out dar on de back peazzer, en he shot one 
eye, he did, en open um ’g’in, en let de smoke oozle out’n he nose. 
Sis B’ar, she jolt de sick baby en swap it fum one knee ter de 
yuther. Dey sot dar en talk twel bimeby der confab sorter slack 
up. Fus’ news dey know Sis Rabbit drap ’er knittin’ en fling up 
’er han’s en squall out: — 

“‘De gracious en de goodness! Ef I ain’t done come traipsin’ 
off en lef’ my ole man money-pus, en he got sump’n’ in dar w’at 
he won’t take a purty fer, needer! I’m dat fergitful,’ sez she, 
‘ twel hit keep me mizerbul mighty nigh de whole time,’ sez she. 

“Brer Wolf, he lif’ up he year en open he eye, en let de smoke 

145 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


oozle out’n he nose. Sis B’ar, she jolt de sick baby wuss en wuss, 
en bimeby, she up’n say, sez she: — 

“ ‘I mighty glad ’t ain’t me, dat I is,’ sez she, ‘bekaze ef I wuz 
ter lef’ my ole man money-pus layin’ ’roun’ dat a-way, he’d des 
nat’ally rip up de planks in de flo’, en t’ar all de bark off’n de 
trees,’ sez she. 

“Ole Miss Rabbit, she sot dar, she did, en she rock en study, 
en study en rock, en she dunner w’at ter do. Ole Sis B’ar, she jolt 
en jolt de baby. Ole Brer Wolf, he let de ’barker smoke oozle thoo 
he nose, he did, en den he open bofe eyes en lay he pipe down. Wid 
dat, he crope down de back steps en lit out fer Brer Rabbit house. 
Brer Wolf got gait same lak race-hoss, en it ain’t take ’im long 
fer ter git whar he gwine. W’en he git ter Brer Rabbit house, he 
pull de latch-string en open de do’, en w’en he do dis, one er de 
little Rabs wake up, en he holler out: — 

“‘Dat you, mammy?’ 

“Den Brer Wolf wish he kin sing ‘Bye-O-Baby,’ but ’fo’ he kin 
make answer, de little Rab holler out ’g’in: — 

“ ‘Dat you, mammy? ’ 

“Ole Brer Wolf know he got ter do sump’n’, so he tuck’n 
w’isper, he did: — 

“‘Sh-sh-sh! Go ter sleep, honey. De boogers’ll git you!’ en 
wid dat de little Rab ’gun ter whimple, en he whimple hisse’f off 
ter sleep. 

“Den w’en it seem lak de little Rabs, w’ich dey wuz mighty 
nigh forty-eleven un um, is all gone ter sleep, Brer Wolf, he crope 
’roun’, he did, en feel on de mantel-shelf, en feel, en feel, twel he 
come ter ole Brer Rabbit money-pus. Ef he want so light wid he 
han’,” Uncle Remus went on, glancing quizzically at the child, 
“he’d a knock off de pollygollic vial w’at ole Miss Rabbit put up 
dar. But nummine! Brer Wolf, he feel, en feel, twel he come ter de 
money-pus, en he grab dat, he did, en he des flew’d away fum dar. 

“W’en he git out er sight en year’n’. Brer Wolf look at de 
146 


BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT 


money-pus, en see w’at in it. Hit *uz one er deze yer kinder 
money-pus wid tossle on de een’ en shiny rings in de middle. Brer 
Wolf look in dar fer ter see w’at he kin see. In one een’ dey wuz a 
piece er calamus-root en some collard-seeds, en in de t’er een’ dey 
wuz a great big rabbit foot. Dis make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, 
en he gallop off home wid de shorance 1 un a man w’at done foun’ 
a gol’ mine.” 

Here Uncle Remus paused and betrayed a disposition to drop 
off to sleep. The little boy, however, touched him upon the knee, 
and asked him what Brother Rabbit did when he found his foot 
was gone. Uncle Remus laughed and rubbed his eyes. 

“Hit’s mighty kuse ’bout Brer Rabbit, honey. He ain’t miss 
dat money-pus fer mighty long time, yit w’en he do miss it, he 
miss it mighty bad. He miss it so bad dat he git right-down sick, 
’kaze he know he bleedz ter fine dat ar foot let go w’at may, let 
come w’at will. He study en he study, yit’t ain’t do no good, en 
he go all ’roun’ ’lowin’ ter hisse’f: — 

“‘I know whar I put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef’ um; I 
know whar I put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef’ um.’ 

“He mope en he mope ’roun’. Look lak Brer Wolf got all de 
luck en Brer Rabbit ain’t got none. Brer Wolf git fat, Brer Rabbit 
git lean; Brer Wolf run fas’, Brer Rabbit lope heavy lak ole Sis 
Cow; Brer Wolf feel funny, Brer Rabbit feel po’ly. Hit keep on 
dis a-way, twel bimeby Brer Rabbit know sump’n’ n’er bleedz 
ter be done. Las’ he make up he min’ fer ter take a journey, en 
he fix up he tricks, he do, en he go en see ole Aunt Mammy- 
Bammy Big-Money.” 

“And who was old Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, Uncle 
Remus?” the little boy inquired. 

“Ah-yi!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of triumph, “I 
know’d w’en I fotch dat ole creetur name up, dey wa’n’t gwine 
ter be no noddin’ ’roun’ dish yer h’a’th. In dem days,” he con- 

1 Assurance. 

147 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


tinued, “dey wuz a Witch-Rabbit, en dat wuz her entitlements — 
ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. She live way off in a deep, 
dark swamp, en ef you go dar you hatter ride some, slide some; 
jump some, hump some; hop some, flop some; walk some, balk 
some; creep some, sleep some; fly some, cry some; toiler some, 
holler some; wade some, spade some; en ef you ain’t monst’us keer- 
ful you ain’t git dar den. Yit Brer Rabbit he git dar atter so long 
a time, en he mighty nigh wo’ out. 

“He sot down, he did, fer ter res’ hisse’f, en bimeby he see 
black smoke cornin’ outer de hole in de groun’ whar de ole Witch- 
Rabbit stay. Smoke git blacker en blacker, en atter w’ile Brer 
Rabbit know de time done come fer ’im ter open up en tell w’at 
he want.” 

As Uncle Remus interpreted the dialogue. Brother Rabbit 
spoke in a shrill, frightened tone, while the voice of the Rabbit- 
Witch was hoarse and oracular: — 

“ ‘Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I needs yo’ he’p.’ 

“ ‘Son Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?’ 

“ ‘Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I los’ de foot you gim me.’ 

“ ‘O Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?’ 

“ ‘Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, my luck done gone. I put dat 
foot down ’pon de groun’. I lef’ um dar I know not whar.’ 

“ ‘ De Wolf done tuck en stole yo’ luck, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley. 
Go fine de track, go git hit back, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.’ 

“Wid dat,” continued Uncle Remus, “ole Aunt Mammy- 
Bammy Big-Money sucked all de black smoke back in de hole in 
de groun’, and Brer Rabbit des put out fer home. W’en he git 
dar, w’at do he do? Do he go off in a cornder by hisse’f, en wipe 
he weepin’eye? Dathe don’t — dat he don’t. He des tuck’n wait 
he chance. He wait en he wait; he wait all day, he wait all night; 
he wait mighty nigh a mont’. He hang ’roun’ Brer Wolf house; he 
watch en he wait. 

“Bimeby, one day, Brer Rabbit git de news dat Brer Wolf des 
148 


IN SOME LADY’S GARDEN 


come back fum a big frolic. Brer Rabbit know he time cornin’, 
en he keep bofe eye open en bofe years h’ist up. Nex’ mawnin’ 
atter Brer Wolf git back fum de big frolic, Brer Rabbit see ’im 
come outer de house en go down de spring atter bucket water. 
Brer Rabbit, he slip up, he did, en he look in. Ole Miss Wolf, she 
’uz sailin’ ’roun’ fryin’ meat en gittin’ brekkus, en dar hangin’ 
’cross er cheer wuz Brer Wolf wes’cut where he keep he money- 
pus. Brer Rabbit rush up ter do’ en pant lak he mighty nigh fag 
out. He rush up, he did, en he sing out: — 

“ ‘Mawnin’, Sis Wolf, mawnin’! Brer Wolf sont me atter de 
shavin’-brush, w’ich he keep it in dat ar money-pus w’at I ’loant 
’im.’ 

“Sis Wolf, she fling up ’er han’s en let um drap, en she laugh en 
say, sez she: — 

“ ‘I ’clar’ ter gracious, Brer Rabbit! You gimme sech a tu’n, 
dat I ain’t got room ter be perlite skacely.’ 

“But mos’ ’fo’ she gits de wuds out’n ’er mouf, Brer Rabbit 
done grab de money-pus en gone!” 

“Which way did he go, Uncle Remus?” the little boy asked, 
after a while. 

“Well, I tell you dis,” Uncle Remus responded emphatically, 
“Brer Rabbit road ain’t lay by de spring; I boun’ you dat!” 

Presently ’Tildy put her head in the door to say that it was 
bedtime, and shortly afterward the child was dreaming that 
Daddy Jack was Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in disguise. 


XXXI 

“IN SOME LADY’S GARDEN” 

When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the old man was 
engaged in the somewhat tedious operation of making shoe-pegs. 
Daddy Jack was assorting a bundle of sassafras roots, and Aunt 

149 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


Tempy was transforming a meal-sack into shirts for some of the 
little negroes, — a piece of economy of her own devising. Uncle 
Remus pretended not to see the child. 

“ Hit’s des lak I tell you all,” he remarked, as if renewing a con¬ 
versation; “I monst’us glad dey ain’t no bad chilluns on dis place 
fer ter be wadin’ in de spring-branch, en hingin’ mud on de yuther 
little chilluns, w’ich de goodness knows dey er nasty nuff bidout 
dat. I monst’us glad dey ain’t none er dat kinder young uns 
’roun’ yer — I is dat.” 

“Now, Uncle Remus,” exclaimed the little boy, in an injured 
tone, “somebody’s been telling you something on me.” 

The old man appeared to be very much astonished. 

“Heyo! whar you bin hidin’, honey? Yer’t is mos’ way atter 
supper en you ain’t in de bed yit. Well — well — w^ell! Sit over 
ag’in in de chimbly jam dar whar you kin dry dem shoes. En de 
ve’y nex’ time w’at I see you wadin’ in dat branch, wid de sickly 
season cornin’ on, I’m a-gwine ter take you ’cross my shoulder en 
kyar you ter Miss Sally, en ef dat ain’t do no good, den I’ll kyar 
you ter Mars John, en ef dat ain’t do no good, den I’m done 
wid you, so dar now!” 

The little boy sat silent a long time, listening to the casual talk 
of Uncle Remus and his guests, and watching the vapor rise from 
his wet shoes. Presently there was a pause in the talk, and the 
child said: — 

“Uncle Remus, have I been too bad to hear a story?” 

The old man straightened himself up and pushed his spectacles 
back on his forehead. 

“ Now, den, folks, you year w’at he say. Shill we pursue on atter 
de creeturs? Shill er shan’t?” 

“Bless yo’ soul, Brer Remus, I mos’ ’shame’ myse’f, yit I tell 
you de Lord’s trufe, I’m des ez bad atter dem ar tales ez dat chile 
dar.” 

“Well, den,” said Uncle Remus, “a tale hit is. One time dey 
150 


IN SOME LADY’S GARDEN 


wuz a man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin. He had a gyardin, 
en he had a little gal fer ter min’ it. I don’t ’speck dish yer 
gyardin wuz wide lak Miss Sally gyardin, but hit ’uz lots longer. 
Hit ’uz so long dat it run down side er de big road, ’cross by de 
plum thicket, en back up de lane. Dish yer gyardin wuz so nice 
en long dat it tuck’n ’track de ’tention er Brer Rabbit; but de 
fence wuz built so close en so high, dat he can’t git in nohow he 
kin fix it.” 

“Oh, I know about that!” exclaimed the little boy. “The man 
catches Brother Rabbit and ties him, and the girl lets him loose 
to see him dance.” 

Uncle Remus dropped his chin upon his bosom. He seemed to 
be humbled. 

“Sis Tempy,” he said, with a sigh, “you’ll hatter come in some 
time w’en we ain’t so crowded, en I’ll up en tell ’bout Billy 
Malone en Miss Janey.” 

■ “ That was n’t the story I heard, Uncle Remus,” said the little 
boy. “Please tell me about Billy Malone and Miss Janey.” 

“Ah-yi!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a triumphant smile; 
“I ’low’d maybe I wa’n’t losin’ de use er my ’membunce, en sho’ 
nuff I ain’t. Now, den, we ’ll des wuk our way back en start fa’r en 
squar’. One time dey wuz a man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin 
en a little gal. De gyardin wuz chock full er truck, en in de maw- 
nin’s, w’en de man hatter go off, he call up de little gal, he did, en 
tell ’er dat she mus’ be sho’ en keep ole Brer Rabbit outer de 
gyardin. He tell ’er dis eve’y mawnin’; but one mawnin’ he tuck 
en forgit it twel he git ter de front gate, en den he stop en holler 
back:— 

“‘O Janey! You Janey! Min’ w’at I tell you ’bout ole Brer 
Rabbit. Don’t you let ’im get my nice green peas.’ 

“Little gal, she holler back: ‘Yes, daddy.’ 

“All dis time, Brer Rabbit he ’uz settin’ out dar in de bushes 
dozin’. Yit, w’en he year he name call out so loud, he cock up one 

151 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


year en lissen, en he ’low ter hisse’f dat he bleedz ter outdo Mr. 
Man. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit, he went ’roun’ en come down de big 
road des ez natchul ez ef he bin trafflin’ some’rs. He see de little 
gal settin’ by de gate, en he up’n ’low: — 

“‘Ain’t dish yer Miss Janey?’ 

“Little gal say: ‘My daddy call me Janey.’” Uncle Remus 
mimicked the voice and manner of a little girl. He hung his head, 
looked excessively modest, and spoke in a shrill tone. The effect 
was so comical that even Daddy Jack seemed to enjoy it. 

“‘My daddy call me Janey; w’at yo’ daddy call you?’ 

“Brer Rabbit look on de groun’, en sorter study lak folks does 
w’en dey feels bad. Den he look up en ’low: — 

“ ‘I bin lose my daddy dis many long year, but w’en he ’live he 
call me Billy Malone.’ Den he look at de little gal hard en ’low: 
‘Well, well, well! I ain’t seed you sence you ’uz a little bit er baby, 
en now yer you is mighty nigh a grown ’oman. I pass yo’ daddy in 
de road des now, en he say I mus’ come en tell you fer ter gimme 
a mess er sparrer-grass.’ 

“Little gal, she fling de gate wide open, en let Mr. Billy Malone 
git de sparrer-grass. 

“Man come back en see whar somebody done bin tromplin’ 
on de gyardin truck, en den he call up de little gal, en up’n ax ’er 
who bin dar since he bin gone; en de little gal, she ’low, she did, 
dat Mr. Billy Malone bin dar. Man ax who in de name er good¬ 
ness is Mr. Billy Malone. Little gal ’low hit’s des a man w’at say 
’er daddy sont ’im fer ter git some sparrer-grass on account er ole 
acquaintance. Man got his ’spicions, but he ain’t say nothin’. 

“Nex’ day, w’en he start off, he holler en tell de little gal fer 
ter keep one eye on ole Brer Rabbit, en don’t let nobody git no 
mo’ sparrer-grass. Brer Rabbit, he settin’ off dar in de bushes, 
en he year w’at de man say, en he see ’im w’en he go off. Bimeby, 
he sorter run ’roun’, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he come hoppin’ 
down de road, twel he git close up by de little gal at de gyardin 

152 


IN SOME LADY’S GARDEN 

gate. Brer Rabbit drapt ’er his biggest bow, en ax ’er how she 
come on. Den, atter dat, he ’low, he did: — 

“‘I see yo’ daddy gwine ’long down de road des now, en he 
gimme a rakin’ down ’kaze I make ’way wid de sparrer-grass, yit 
he say dat bein’’s how I sech a good fr’en’ er de fambly I kin come 
en ax you fer ter gimme a mess er Inglish peas.’ 

“Little gal, she tuck’n fling de gate wide open, en ole Brer 
Rabbit, he march in, he did, en he git de peas in a hurry. Man 
come back atter w’ile, en he ’low: — 

“‘Who bin tromplin’ down my pea-vines?’ 

“‘Mr. Billy Malone, daddy.’ 

“Man slap he han’ on he forrud ; 1 he dunner w’at ter make er 
all dis. Bimeby, he ’low: — 

“‘W’at kinder lookin’ man dish yer Mr. Billy Malone?’ 

“‘Split lip, pop eye, big year, en bob-tail, daddy.’ 

“Man say he be bless ef he ain’t gwine ter make de acquaint¬ 
ance er Mr. Billy Malone; en he went ter wuk, he did, en fix ’im 
up a box-trap, en he put some goobers in dar, en he tell de little 
gal nex’ time Mr. Billy Malone come fer ’vite im in. Nex maw- 
nin’, Man git little ways fum de house en tuck’n holler back, he 
did: — 

W’atsumever you does, don’t you dast ter let nobody git no 
mo’ sparrer-grass, en don’t you let um git no mo Inglish peas. 

“Little gal holler back: ‘No, daddy.’ 

“Den, atter dat, ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ yer come Mr. Billy Malone, 
hoppin’ ’long down de big road. He drapt a bow, he did, en 
’low:— 

“‘Mawnin’, Miss Janey, mawnin’! Met yo’ daddy down de 
big road, en he say dat I can’t git no mo’ sparrer-grass en green 
peas but you kin gimme some goobers.’ 

“Little gal, she lead de way, en tell Mr. Billy Malone dar dey 
is in de box. Mr. Billy Malone, he lick he chops, he did, en ’low: — 

1 Forehead. 

153 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“‘You oughter be monst’us glad, honey, dat you got sech a 
good daddy lak dat.’ 

“Wid dat, Mr. Billy Malone wunk he off eye, en jump in de 
box” 

“W’at I done tell you!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy. 

“He jump in de box,” continued Uncle Remus, “en dar he wuz, 
en ef de little gal hadder bin a minnit bigger, I lay she’d ’a’ tuck’n 
done some mighty tall winkin’. 

“Man ain’t gone fur, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ yer he come back. 
W’en Brer Rabbit year ’im cornin’ he bounce ’roun’ in dar same 
ez a flea in a piller-case, but ’t ain’t do no good. Trap done fall, 
en Brer Rabbit in dar. Man look thoo de slats, en ’low: — 

“‘Dar you is — same old hoppum-skippum run en jumpum. 
Youer de ve’y chap I’m atter. I want yo’ foot fer ter kyar in my 
pocket, I want yo’ meat fer ter put in de pot, en I want yo’ hide 
fer ter w’ar on my head.’ 

“Dis make cole chill rush up en down Brer Rabbit backbone, 
en he git more ’umble dan a town nigger w’at been kotch out 
atter nine erclock . 1 He holler en cry, en cry en holler: — 

“‘Do pray, Mr. Man, tu’n me go! I done ’ceive you dis time, 
but I ain’t gwine ter ’ceive you no mo’. Do pray, Mr. Man, tu’n 
me go, des dis little bit er time.’ 

“Man he ain’t say in’ nothin’. He look lak he study in’ ’bout 
somep’n’ ne’r way off yan’, en den he take de little gal by de han’ 
en go off todes de house.” 

“Sho’ly Brer Rabbit time done come now!” exclaimed Aunt 
Tempy, in a tone of mingled awe and expectation. 

Uncle Remus paid no attention to the interruption, but went 
right on: — 

“Hit seem lak dat Brer Rabbit got mo’ luck dan w’at you kin 
shake a stick at, ’kaze de man en de little gal ain’t good en gone 

1 During slavery, the ringing of the nine-o’clock bell in the towns and villages at 
night was the signal for all negroes to retire to their quarters. 

154 


IN SOME LADY’S GARDEN 


skacely twel yer come Brer Fox a-pirootin’ ’roun’. Brer Fox year 
Brer Rabbit holl’in’ en he up’n ax w’at de ’casion er sech gwines 
on right dar in de broad open daylight. Brer Rabbit squall out: — 

“‘Lordy, Brer Fox! you better make ’as’e ’way fum yer, ’kaze 
Mr. Man ull ketch you en slap you in dish yer box en make you 
eat mutton twel you ull des nat’ally bus’ right wide open. Run, 
Brer Fox, run! He bin feedin’ me on mutton the whole blessid 
mawnin’ en now he done gone atter mo’. Run, Brer Fox, run!’ 

“Yit, Brer Fox ain’t run. He up’n ax Brer Rabbit how de 
mutton tas’e. 

‘“He tas’e mighty good ’long at fus’, but nuff’s a nuff, en too 
much is a plenty. Run, Brer Fox, run! He ull ketch you, sho’!’ 

“Yit, Brer Fox ain’t run. He up’n ’low dat he b’leeve he want 
some mutton hisse’f, en wid dat he onloose de trap en let Brer 
Rabbit out, en den he tuck’n git in dar. Brer Rabbit ain’t wait 
fer ter see w’at de upshot gwine ter be, needer — I boun’ you he 
ain’t. He des tuck’n gallop off in de woods, en he laff en laff twel 
he hatter hug a tree fer ter keep fum drappin’ on de groun’.” 

“Well, but what became of Brother Fox? ” the little boy asked, 
after waiting some time for Uncle Remus to proceed. 

“Now, den, honey,” said the old man, falling back upon his 
dignity, “hit e’en about takes all my spar’ time fer ter keep up 
wid you en Brer Rabbit, let ’lone keepin’ up wid Brer Fox. Ole 
Brer Rabbit tuck’n tuck keer hisse’f, en now let Brer Fox take 
keer hisse’f.” 

“I say de word!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy. 


155 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


XXXII 

BRER ’POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE 

When Uncle Remus began his story of Billy Malone and Miss 
Janey, Daddy Jack sat perfectly quiet. His eyes were shut, and 
he seemed to be dozing; but, as the story proceeded, he grew more 
and more restless. Several times he was upon the point of inter¬ 
rupting Uncle Remus, but he restrained himself. He raised his 
hands to a level with his chin, and beat the ends of his fingers 
gently together, apparently keeping time to his own thoughts. 
But his impatience exhausted itself, and when Uncle Remus had 
concluded, the old African was as quiet as ever. When Brother 
Fox was left so unceremoniously to his fate. Daddy Jack straight¬ 
ened himself temporarily and said: — 

“Me yent bin-a yerry da tale so. ’E nice, fer true, ’e mek larf 
come; oona no bin-a yerry um lak me.” 

“No,” said Uncle Remus, with grave affability, “I ’speck not. 
One man, one tale; ’n’er man, ’n’er tale. Folks tell um diffunt. I 
boun’ yo’ way de bes’. Brer Jack. Out wid it — en we ull set 
up yer, en hark at you en laff wid you plum twel de chick’ns 
crow.” 

Daddy Jack needed no other invitation. He clasped his knee 
in his hands and began: — 

“ Dey is bin lif one Man wut plan’ some pea in ’e geerden. ’E 
plan’ some pea, but ’e mek no pea; B’er Rabbit, ’e is fine um. ’E 
fine um un ’e eat um. Man mek no pea, B’er Rabbit ’e ’stroy um 
so. ’E plan’ dem pea; dey do grow, un ’e go off. ’E come bahk; 
pea no dere. B’er Rabbit teer um up un mek ’e cud wit’ dem. So 
long tam, Man say ’e gwan ketch um, un ’e no ketch um. Man 
go, B’er Rabbit come; Man come, B’er Rabbit go. Bumbye, 
M&n, ’e is git so mad, ’e y-eye bin-a come red; ’e crack ’e toof, ’e 
do cuss. ’E oby ’e gwan ketch B’er Rabbit nohow. Dun ’e is 

156 


BRER ’POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE 


bin-a call ’e lilly gal. ’E talk, ’e tell ’im fer let B’er Rabbit go troo 
da geerden gett. Lil gal say yasser. ’E talk, ’e tell ’im wun B’er 
Rabbit go troo da gett, dun ’e mus’ shed da gett, un no le’m come 
pas’ no mo’. Lil gal say yasser. 

“Ole Man is bin-a gone ’bout ’e wuk; lil gal, ’e do lissun. B’er 
Rabbit, ’e come tippy-toe, tippy-toe; gone in da geerden; eat dem 
pea tel ’e full up; eat tel he mos’ git seeck wit’ dem pea. Dun ’e 
start fer go out; ’e fine da gett shed. ’E shek um, ’e no open; ’e 
push um, ’e no open; ’e fair grunt, ’e push so hard, ’e no open. ’E 
bin-a call da lil gal; e’ say: — 

“‘Lil gal, lil gal! cum y-open da gett. ’T is hu’t me feelin’ fer 
fine da gett shed lak dis.’ 

“Lil gal no talk nuttin’. B’er Rabbit say:— 

“°T is-a bin hu’t me feelin’, lil gal! Come y-open da gett, lil 
gal, less I teer um loose from da hinch.’ 

“Lil gal v’ice come bahk. ’E talk: 

“‘Daddy say mus’n’.’ 

“B’er Rabbit open ’e mout\ ’E say: — 

“‘See me long sha’p toof? ’E bite you troo un troo!’ 

“Lil gal skeer; ’e tu’n loose de gett un fly. B’er Rabbit gone! 
Ole Man come bahk; ’e ahx ’bout B’er Rabbit. Lil gal say:— 

‘“’E done gone, daddy. I shed da gett, I hoi’ um fas’. B’er 
Rabbit bin show ’e toof; ’e gwan fer bite-a me troo un troo. I git 
skeer’, daddy.’ Man ahx: — 

“‘How ’e gwin fer bite you troo un troo, wun ’e toof fix bite 
grass? B’er Rabbit tell one big tale. ’E no kin bite-a you. Wun 
’e come ’g’in, you shed dem gett, you hoi’ um tight, you no le’m 
go pas’ no mo’.’ Lil gal say yasser. 

“Nex’ day mawnin’, Man go ’long ’bout ’e wuk. Lil gal, ’e 
play ’roun’, un ’e play ’roun’. B’er Rabbit, ’e is come tippy-tippy. 
’E fine gett open; ’e slip in da geerden. ’E chew dem pea, ’e gnyaw 
dem pea; ’e eat tel dem pea tas’e bad. Dun e try fer go out; gett 
shed fas’. ’E no kin git troo. ’E push, gett no open; ’e keek wit’ 

157 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


um fut, gett no open; ’e butt wit’ um head, gett no open. Dun ’e 
holler: — 

“‘Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. ’E berry bad fer fool 
wit’ ole man lak me. I no kin hoi’ me feelin’ down wun you is do 
lak dis. ’E berry bad.’ 

“Lil gal hoi’ ’e head down; ’e no say nuttin’. B’er Rabbit say: — 

“ ‘Be shame, lil gal, fer do ole man lak dis. Me feelin’ git wusser. 
Come y-open de gett ’fo’ I is teer um down . 5 

“Lil gal say: ‘Daddy say mus’n’.’ 

“B’er Rabbit open ’e y-eye wide; ’e is look berry mad. ’E 
say: — 

“ ‘See me big y-eye? I pop dis y-eye stret at you, me kill-a you 
dead. Come y-open da gett ’fo’ me y-eye pop/ 

“Lil gal skeer fer true. ’E loose de gett, ’e fair fly. B’er Rabbit 
done gone! Lil gal daddy bahk. ’E ahx wey is B’er Rabbit. Lil 
gal say: — 

“°E done gone, daddy. I hoi’ gett fas’; ’e is bin-a ’come berry 
mad. ’E say he gwan pop ’e y-eye at me, shoot-a me dead.’ Man 
say: — 

“ ‘B’er Rabbit tell-a too big tale. How ’e gwan shoot-a you wit’ 
’e y-eye? ’E y-eye sem lak turrer folks y-eye. Wun ’e come some 
mo’, you shed dem gett, you hoi’ um fas’.’ Lil gal say yasser. 

“Nex’ day mawnin’, Man go, B’er Rabbit come. ’E is ma’ch 
in da gett un eat-a dem pea tel ’e kin eat-a no mo’. ’E sta’t out; 
gett shed. ’E no kin come pas’. ’E shek, ’e push, ’e pull; gett 
shed. Dun ’e holler: — 

“‘Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. ’T is berry bad fer treat 
you’ kin lak dis. Come y-open da gett, lil gal. ’T is full me up 
wit’ sorry wun you do lak dis.’ 

“Lil gal, ’e no say nuttin’. B’er Rabbit say: — 

“ ‘ ’E berry bad fer treat you’ kin lak dis. Tu’n go da gett, lil 
gal.’ Lil gal say: — 

“‘How you is kin wit’ me, B’er Rabbit?’ 

158 


BRER ’POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE 


“‘You’ gran’daddy foller at’ me nuncle wit’ ’e dog. Da mek 
we is kin. Come y-open da gett, lil gal.’” 

“Dat ole Rabbit wuz a-talkin’, mon!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, 
enthusiastically. 

“Lil gal no say nuttin’ ’t all!” Daddy Jack went on, with re¬ 
newed animation. “Dun B’er Rabbit say: — 

“‘See me long, sha’p toof, lil gal? Me bite-a you troo un troo.’ 
Lil gal say: — 

“‘Me no skeer da toof. ’E bite nuttin’ ’tall ’cep’ ’e bite grass.’ 
B’er Rabbit say: — 

“‘See me big y-eye? I pop um at you, shoot-a you dead.’ Lil 
gal say: — 

“‘Me no skeer da y-eye. ’E sem lak turrer folks y-eye.’ B’er 
Rabbit say: — 

“‘Lil gal, you mek me ’come mad. I no lak fer hu’t-a me kin. 
Look at me ho’n! I run you troo un troo.’ 

“B’er Rabbit lif’ ’e two year up; ’e p’int um stret at da lil gal. 
Lil gal ’come skeer da ho’n; ’e do tu’n go da gett; ’e fly fum dey- 
dey.” 

“Well, ef dat don’t beat!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, laughing 
as heartily as the little boy. “Look at um one w^ay, en Rabbit year 
does look lak sho’ nuff ho’ns.” 

“Lil gal tu’n go da gett,” Daddy Jack continued; “B’er Rab¬ 
bit goneI Man come bahk; ’e ahx wey is B’er Rabbit. Lil gal cry; 
’e say ’e skeer B’er Rabbit ho’n. Man say ’e is hab no ho’n. Lil 
gal is stan’ um down ’e see ho’n. Man say da ho’n is nuttin’ ’t all 
but B’er Rabbit year wut ’e yeddy wit’. ’E tell lil gal nex’ tarn 
B’er Rabbit come, ’e mus’ shed da gett; ’e mus’ run fum dey-dey 
un leaf um shed. Lil gal say yasser. 

“Man gone, B’er Rabbit come. ’E is go in da gett; ’e eat-a dem 
pea tel’e tire’. ’E try fer go pas’da gett, gett shed. ’E call lil gal; 
lil gal gone I ’E call, call, call; lil gal no yeddy. ’E try fer fine 
crack in da palin’; no crack dey. ’E try fer jump over; de palin’ 

159 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


too high. ’E ’come skeer; ’e is ’come so skeer ’e squot ’pun da 
groun’; ’e shek, ’e shiver. 

“Man come bahk. ’E ahx wey B’er Rabbit. Lil gal say ’e in da 
geerden. Man hug lil gal, ’e is lub um so. ’E go in da geerden; ’e 
fine B’er Rabbit. ’E ketch um — ’e ca’ um off fer kill um; ’e mad 
fertrue. Lil gal come holler: — 

“‘Daddy, daddy! missus say run dere! ’E wan’ you come stret 
dere!’ 

“Man tie B’er Rabbit in da bag; ’e hang um on tree lim\ 
’E say: — 

“‘I gwan come bahk. I l’arn you fer mek cud wit’ me green 
pea.’ 

“Man gone fer see ’e missus. Bumbye, B’er ’Possum is bin-a 
come pas’. ’E look up, ’e ketch glimp’ da bag ’pun da lim’. ’E 
say: — 

“‘Ki! Wut dis is bin-a hang in da bag ’pun da tree-lim’?’ B’er 
Rabbit say: — 

“ ‘ Hush, B’er ’Possum! ’T is-a me. I bin-a lissen at dem sing in 
da cloud.’ 

“B’er ’Possum lissen. ’E say: — 

“‘I no yed dem sing, B’er Rabbit.’ 

“‘Hush, B’er ’Possum! How is I kin yeddy dem sing wun you 
is mek-a da fuss dey-dey?’ 

“B’er ’Possum, ’e hoi’ ’e mout’ still, ’cep’ ’e do grin. B’er Rab¬ 
bit say: — 

“‘I yed dem now! I yed dem now! B’er ’Possum, I wish you is 
yeddy dem sing!’ 

“B’er ’Possum say ’e mout’ water fer yeddy dem sing in da 
cloud. B’er Rabbit ,’e say ’e is bin-a hab so long tarn ’quaintun 
wit’ B’er ’Possum, ’e le’m yeddy dem sing. ’E say: — 

“‘I git fum da bag. I tu’n-a you in tel you is yeddy dem sing. 
Dun you is git fum da bag, tel I do come bahk un ’joy mese’f.’ 

“B’er ’Possum, ’e do clam up da tree; ’e git dem bag, ’e bring 
160 


BRER ’POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE 


um down. ’E tak off da string; ’e tu’n B’er Rabbit go. ’E crawl 
in un ’e quile up. ’E say: — 

“‘I no yeddy dem sing, B’er Rabbit!’ 

“‘Hi! wait tel da bag it tie, B’er ’Possum. You yed dem soon 
nuff!’ ’E wait. 

“‘I no yeddy dem sing, B’er Rabbit!’ 

“‘Hi! wait tel I clam da tree, B’er ’Possum. You yed dem soon 
nuff!’ ’E wait. 4 

“‘I no yeddy dem sing, B’er Rabbit!’ 

“‘Wait tel I fix um ’pun da lim’, B’er ’Possum. You yed dem 
soon nuff!’ ’E wait. 

“B’er Rabbit clam down; ’e run ’way fum dey-dey; ’e hide in 
da bush side. Man come bahk. ’E see da bag moof. B’er’Possum 
say: — 

“‘I no yeddy dem sing. I wait fer yed um sing!’ 

“Man t’ink ’e B’er Rabbit in da bag. ’E say: — 

“‘Ah-yi-ee! I mekky you yed dem sing!’ 

“Man teka da bag fum da tree-lim’; ’e do slam da bag ’gin’ 
da face da ye’t’. ’E tek-a ’e walkin’-cane, un ’e beat B’er ’Possum 
wut is do um no ha’m tel ’e mos’ kill um. Man t’ink B’er Rabbit 
mus’ bin dead by dis. ’E look in da bag; ’e ’tretch ’e y-eye big; 
’e ’stonish’. B’er Rabbit, ’e do come fum da bush side; ’e do 
holler, ’e do laff. ’E say: — 

“‘You no is ketch-a me! I t’ief you’ green pea, — I t’ief um 
some mo’, — I t’ief um tel I dead!’ 

“Man, ’e ’come so mad, ’e is fling hatchet at B’er Rabbit un 
chop off ’e tail.” 

At this moment Daddy Jack subsided. His head drooped for¬ 
ward, and he was soon in the land of Nod. Uncle Remus sat gaz¬ 
ing into the fireplace, as though lost in reflection. Presently, he 
laughed softly to himself, and said: — 

“Dat’s des ’bout de long en de short un it. Mr. Man clip off 
Brer Rabbit tail wid de hatchet, en it bleed so free dat Brer Rab- 

161 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


bit rush off ter de cotton-patch en put some lint on it, en down ter 
dis day dat lint mos’ de fus’ t’ing you see w’en Brer Rabbit jump 
out’n he bed en tell you good-bye.” 

“But, Uncle Remus, what became of Brother ’Possum?” 

Uncle Remus smacked his lips and looked wise. 

“Don’t talk ’bout Brer ’Possum, honey, ef dat ar Mr. Man 
wuz nice folks lak we all is, en I ain’t ’spute it, he tuck’n tuck Brer 
’Possum en bobbycue ’im, en I wish I had a great big piece right 
now. Dat I does.” 


XXXIII 

WHY THE GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED 

One night, while the little boy was watching Uncle Remus broil 
a piece of bacon on the coals, he heard a great commotion among 
the guinea-fowls. The squawking and pot-racking went on at such 
a rate that the geese awoke and began to scream, and finally the 
dogs added their various voices to the uproar. Uncle Remus 
leaned back in his chair and listened. 

“I ’speck may be dat’s de patter-rollers gwine by,” he said, 
after a while. “But you can’t put no ’pen’unce in dem ar Guinny- 
hins, ’kaze dey’ll wake up en holler ef dey year deyse’f sno’. 
Dey’ll fool you, sho’.” 

“They are mighty funny, anyhow,” said the little boy. 

“Dat’s it!” exclaimed Uncle Remus. “Dey looks quare, en 
dey does quare. Dey ain’t do lak no yuther kinder chick’n, en 
dey ain’t look lak no yuther kinder chick’n. Yit folks tell me,” 
the old man went on, reflectively, “dat dey er heap mo’ kuse 
lookin’ now dan w’at dey use’ ter be. I year tell dat dey wuz one 
time w’en dey wuz all blue, ’stid er havin’ all dem ar teenchy little 
spots on um.” 

“ Well, how did they get to be speckled, Uncle Remus?” asked 
162 


WHY GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED 

the little boy, seeing that the old man was disposed to leave the 
subject and devote his attention to his broiling bacon. 

Uncle Remus did not respond at once. He turned his meat over 
carefully, watched it a little while, and then adroitly transferred 
it to the cover of a tin bucket, which was made to answer the pur¬ 
pose of a plate. Then he searched about in the embers until he 
found his ash-cake, and in a little while his supper was ready to be 
eaten. 

“I ain’t begrudgin’ nobody nothin’,” said Uncle Remus, meas¬ 
uring the victuals with his eye; “yit I’m monst’us glad Brer Jack 
ain’t nowhar’s ’roun’, ’kaze dey ain’t no tellin’ de gawm dat ole 
nigger kin eat. He look shaky, en he look dry up, en he ain’t got 
no toof, yit w’ence he set hisse’f down whar dey any vittles, he 
des nat’ally laps hit up. En let ’lone dat, he ull wipe he mouf en 
look’ roun’ des lak he want mo’. Time Miss Sally see dat ole nigger 
eat one meal er vittles, I boun’ you he hatter go back down de 
country. I ain’t begrudgin’ Brer Jack de vittles,” Uncle Remus 
went on, adopting a more conciliatory tone, “dat I ain’t, ’kaze 
folks is got ter eat; but, gentermens! you be ’stonish’ w’en you see 
Brer Jack ’pesterin’ ’long er he dinner.” 

The little boy sat quiet awhile, and then reminded Uncle Remus 
of the guinea-fowls. 

“Tooby sho’, honey, tooby sho’! W’at I doin’ runnin’ on dis- 
a-way ’bout ole Brer Jack? W’at he done ter me? Yer I is gwine 
on ’bout ole Brer Jack, en dem ar Guinny-hins out dar waitin’. 
Well, den, one day Sis Cow wuz a-grazin’ ’bout in de ole fiel’ en 
lookin’ atter her calf. De wedder wuz kinder hot, en de calf, he 
tuck’n stan’, he did, in he mammy shadder, so he kin keep cool, en 
so dat one flip un he mammy tail kin keep the flies off’n bofe un 
um. Atter w’ile, ’long come a drove er Guinnies. De Guinnies, 
dey howdied, en Sis Cow, she howdied, en de Guinnies, dey sorter 
picked ’roun’ en sun deyse’f; en Sis Cow, she crap de grass en ax 
um de news er de neighborhoods. Dey went on dis a-way twel 

163 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


't wa'n’t long 'fo' dey year mighty kuse noise out dar t'er side er 
de ole fiel’. De Guinnies, dey make great 'miration, des lak dey 
does deze days, en ole Sis Cow fling up 'er head en look all 'roun'. 
She ain't see nothin’. 

“ Atter w’ile dey year de kuse fuss 'g'in, en dey look 'roun', en 
bless gracious! stan’in’ right dar, 'twix' dem en sundown, wuz a 
great big Lion!" 

“A Lion, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy, in amazement. 

“Des ez sho’ ez you er settin’ dar, honey, — a great big Lion. 
You better b’leeve dey wuz a monst’us flutterment 'mungs de 
Guinnies, en ole Sis Cow, she looked mighty skeer’d. De Lion 
love cow meat mos’ better dan he do any yuther kinder meat, en 
he shake he head en 'low ter hisse'f dat he’ll des about ketch ole 
Sis Cow T en eat 'er up, en take en kyar de calf ter he fambly. 

“Den he tuck’n shuck he head, de Lion did, en make straight at 
Sis Cow. De Guinnies dey run dis a-way, en dey run t’er way, en 
dey run all 'roun' en 'roun'; but ole Sis Cow, she des know she got 
ter stan’ 'er groun’, en w’en she see de Lion makin' todes 'er, she 
des tuck’n drapt 'er head down en pawed de dirt. De Lion, he 
crope up, he did, en crope 'roun', watchin’ fer good chance fer ter 
make a jump. He crope 'roun', he did, but no diffunce which a-way 
he creep, dar wuz ole Sis Cow hawns p’intin’ right straight at 'im. 
Ole Sis Cow, she paw de dirt, she did, en show de white er her 
eyes, en beller way down in 'er stomach. 

“ Dey went on dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby de Guinnies, dey 
see dat Sis Cow ain’t so mighty skeer’d, en den dey 'gun ter take 
heart. Fus' news you know, one un um sorter drap he wings en 
fuzzle up de fedders en run out 'twix' Sis Cow en de Lion. W’en 
he get dar, he sorter dip down, he did, en fling up dirt des lak you 
see um do in de ash-pile. Den he tuck’n run back, he did, en time 
he git back, ’n’er one run out en raise de dus’ 'twix' Sis Cow en de 
Lion. Den ’n’er one, he run out en dip down en shoo up de dus'; 
den 'n'er one run out en dip down, en ’n’er one en yit ’n’er one, 

164 


WHY GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED 


twel, bless gracious! time dey all run out en dip down en raise de 
dus’, de Lion wuz dat blin’ twel he ain’t kin see he han’ befo’ ’im. 
Dis make ’im so mad dat he make a splunge at Sis Cow, en de old 
lady, she kotch ’im on her hawns en got ’im down, en des nat’ally 
to’ intruls out.” 

“Did she kill the Lion, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy, 
incredulously. 

“Dat she did — dat she did! Yit ’t ain’t make ’er proud, 
’kaze atter de Lion done good en dead, she tuck en call up de 
Guinnies, she did, en she ’low, dey bin so quick fer ter he’p ’er out, 
dat she wanter pay um back. De Guinnies, dey say, sezee: — 

“‘Don’t bodder ’long er we all, Sis Cow,’ sezee. ‘You had yo’ 
fun en we all had ourn, en ’ceppin’ dat ar blood en ha’r on yo’ 
hawn,’ sezee, ‘dey ain’t none un us any de wuss off,’ sezee. 
r “But ole Sis Cow, she stan’ um down, she did, dat she got ter 
pay um back, en den atter w’ile she ax um w’at dey lak bes’. 

“One un um up en make answer dat w’at dey lak bes’, Sis Cow, 
she can’t gi’ um. Sis Cow, she up en ’low dat she dunno ’bout dat, 
en she ax um w’at is it. 

“Den de Guinnies, dey tuck’n huddle up, dey did, en hoi’ er 
confab wid one er ’n’er, en w’iles dey er doin’ dis, ole Sis Cow, she 
tuck’n fetch a long breff, en den she call up ’er cud, en stood dar 
chawin’ on it des lak she ain’t had no tribalation dat day. 

“Bimeby one er de Guinnies step out fum de huddlement en 
make a bow en ’low dat dey all ’ud be mighty proud ef Sis Cow 
kin fix it some way so dey can’t be seed so fur thoo de woods, ’kaze 
dey look blue in de sun, en dey look blue in de shade, en dey can’t 
hide deyse’f nohow. Sis Cow, she chaw on ’er cud, en shet ’er eyes, 
en study. She chaw en chaw, en study en study. Bimeby she 
’low: — 

“‘Go fetch me a pail!’ Guinny-hin laff! 

" “‘Law, Sis Cow! w’at de name er goodness you gwine do wid a 
pail?’ 


165 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“‘Go fetch me a pail!’ 

“ Guinny-hin, she run’d off, she did, en atter w’ile yer she come 
trottin’ back wid a pail. She sot dat pail down,” continued Uncle 
Remus, in the tone of an eye-witness to the occurrence, “en Sis 
Cow, she tuck ’er stan’ over it, en she let down ’er milk in dar 
twel she mighty nigh fill de pail full. Den she tuck’n make dem 
Guinny-hins git in a row, en she dip ’er tail in dat ar pail, en she 
switch it at de fust un en sprinkle ’er all over wid de milk; en eve’y 
time she switch ’er tail at um she ’low: — 

“ ‘I loves dis un!’ Den she ’ud sing: — 

“‘Oh, Blue , go ’way! you shill not stay I 
Oh, Guinny , he Gray, he Gray!* 

“She tuck’n sprinkle de las’ one un um, en de Guinnies, dey sot 
in de sun twel dey git dry, en fum dat time out dey got dem little 
speckles un um.” 


XXXIV 

BRER RABBIT’S LOVE-CHARM 

“Dey wuz one time,” said Uncle Remus one night, as they all sat 
around the wide hearth, — Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the 
little boy in their accustomed places, — “dey wuz one time w’en 
de t’er creeturs push Brer Rabbit so close dat he tuck up a kinder 
idee dat may be he wa’n’t ez smart ez he mout be, en he study 
’bout dis plum twel he git humble ez de nex’ man. ’Las’ he low 
ter hisse’f dat he better make inquirements —” 

“Ki!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, raising both hands and grinning 
excitedly, “wut tale dis? I bin yerry da tale wun I is bin wean’t 
fum me mammy.” 

“Well, den. Brer Jack,” said Uncle Remus, with instinctive 
deference to the rules of hospitality, “I ’speck you des better 

166 


BRER RABBIT’S LOVE-CHARM 

whirl in yer en spin ’er out. Ef you git ’er mix up anywhars I ull 
des slip in front er you en ketch holt whar you lef’ off.” 

With that, Daddy Jack proceeded: — 

“One tam, B’er Rabbit is bin lub one noung leddy.” 

“Miss Meadows, I ’speck,” suggested Uncle Remus, as the old 
African paused to rub his chin. 

“ ’E no lub Miss Meadow nuttin’ ’t all! ” exclaimed Daddy 
Jack, emphatically. “ ’E bin lub turrer noung leddy fum dat. ’E 
is bin lub werry nice noung leddy. ’E lub ’um hard, ’e lub ’um 
long, un ’e is gwan try fer mek dem noung leddy marry wit’ ’im. 
Noung leddy seem lak ’e no look ’pon B’er Rabbit, un dis is bin-a 
mek B’er Rabbit feel werry bad all da day long. ’E moof ’way 
off by ’ese’f; ’e lose ’e fat, un ’e heer is bin-a come out. Bumbye, ’e 
see one ole Affiky mans wut is bin-a hunt in da fiel’ fer root en 
yerrub fer mek ’e met’cine truck. ’E see um, un he go toze um. 
Affiky mans open ’e y-eye big; ’e ’stonish’. ’E say: — 

“ ‘Ki, B’er Rabbit! you’ he’lt’ is bin-a gone; ’e bin-a gone un 
lef’ you. Wut mekky you is look so puny lak dis? Who is bin 
hu’t-a you’ feelin’P ’ 

“B’er Rabbit larf wit’ dry grins. ’E say: — 

“ ‘ Shoo! I bin got well. Ef you is see me wun I sick fer true, ’t 
will mekky you heer stan’ up, I skeer you so.’ 

“Affiky mans, ’e mek B’er Rabbit stick out ’e tongue; ’e is 
count B’er Rabbit pulse. ’E shekky ’e head; ’e do say: — 

“‘Hi, B’er Rabbit! Wut all dis? You is bin ketch-a da gal- 
fever, un ’e strak in ’pon you’ gizzud.’ 

“Den B’er Rabbit, ’e is tell-a da Affiky mans ’bout dem noung 
leddy wut no look toze ’im, un da Affiky mans, ’e do say ’e bin 
know gal sem lak dat, ’e is bin shum befo’. ’E say ’e kin fix all 
dem noung leddy lak dat. B’er Rabbit, ’e is feel so good, ’e jump 
up high; ’e is bin crack ’e heel; ’e shekky da Affiky mans by de 
han’. 

“Affiky mans, ’e say B’er Rabbit no kin git da gal ’cep’ ’e is 
167 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


mek ’im one cha’m-bag. ’E say ’e mus’ git one el’phan’ tush, un 
’e mus’ git one ’gater toof, un ’e mus’ git one rice-bud bill. B’er 
Rabbit werry glad ’bout dis, un ’e hop way fum dey-dey. 

44 ’E hop, ’e run, ’e jump all nex’ day night, un bumbye ’e see 
one great big el’phan’ come breakin’ ’e way troo da woots. B’er 
Rabbit, ’e say: — 

“‘Ki! Oona big fer true! I bin-a yeddy talk ’bout dis in me 
y-own countree. Oona big fer true; too big fer be strong.’ 

“El’phan’ say:‘See dis!’ 

“’E tek pine tree in ’e snout; ’e pull um by da roots; ’e toss um 
way off. B’er Rabbit say: — 

“ ‘ Hi! dem tree come ’cause you bin high; ’e no come ’cause you 
bin strong.’ 

“El’phan’ say:‘See dis!’ 

“’E rush troo da woots; ’e fair teer um down. B’er Rabbit 
say: — 

“‘Hoo! dem is bin-a saplin’ wey you ’stroy. See da big pine? 
Oona no kin ’stroy dem.’ 

“El’phan’ say:‘See dis!’ 

“ ’E run ’pon da big pine; da big pine is bin too tough. El’phan’ 
tush stick in deer fer true; da big pine hoi’ um fas’. B’er Rabbit 
git-a dem tush; ’e fetch um wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky mans 
say el’phan’ is bin too big fer be sma’t. ’E say ’e mus’ haf one 
’gater toof fer go wit’ el’phan’ tush. 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e do crack ’e heel; ’e do fair fly fum dey-dey. 
’E go ’long, ’e go ’long. Bumbye ’e come ’pon ’gater. Da sun 
shiiin hot; da ’gater do ’joy ’ese’f. B’er Rabbit say: — 

“ ‘Dis road, ’e werry bad; less we mek good one by da crickside.’ 

“ ’Gater lak dat. ’E wek ’ese’f up fum ’e head to ’e tail. Dey 
sta’t fer clean da road. ’Gater, ’e do teer da bush wit’ ’e toof; ’e 
sweep-a da trash way wit’ ’e tail. B’er Rabbit, ’e do beat-a da 
bush down wit’ ’e cane. ’E hit lef’, ’e hit right; ’e hit up, ’e hit 
down; ’e hit all ’roun’. ’E hit un ’e hit, tel bumbye ’e hit ’gater in 

168 


BRER RABBIT’S LOVE-CHARM 


’e mout’ un knock-a da toof out. ’E grab um up; ’e gone fum 
dey-dey. ’E fetch-a da ’gater toof wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky 
mans say: — 

“ ‘ ’Gater is bin-a got sha’p toof fer true. Go fetch-a me one rice- 
bud bill/ 

“B’er Rabbit gone! ’E go ’long, ’e go ’long, tel ’e see rice-bud 
swingin’ on bush. ’E ahx um kin ’e fly. 

“Rice-bud say: ‘See dis!’ 

“’E wissle, ’e sing, ’e shek ’e wing; ’e fly all ’roun’ un ’roun’. 

“B’er Rabbit say rice-bud kin fly wey da win’ is bin blow, but ’e 
no kin fly wey no win’ blow. 

“Rice-bud say, ‘Enty!’ 

“’E wait fer win’ stop blowin’; ’e wait, un ’e fly all ’roun’ un 
’roun’. 

“ B’er Rabbit say rice-bud yent kin fly in house wey dey no win’. 

“Rice-bud say, ‘Enty!’ 

“’E fly in house, ’e fly all ’roun’ un ’roun’. B’er Rabbit pull de 
do’ shed; ’e look at dem rice-bud; ’e say, ‘Enty!’ 

“’E ketch dem rice-bud; ’e do git um bill, ’e fetch um wey da 
AfSky mans lif. Affiky mans says dem rice-bud bill slick fer true. 
’E tekky da el’phan’ tush, ’e tekky da ’gater toof, ’e tekky da 
rice-bud bill, he pit um in lil bag; ’e swing dem bag ’pon B’er 
Rabbit neck. Den B’er Rabbit kin marry dem noung gal. Enty! ” 

Here Daddy Jack paused and flung a glance of feeble tender¬ 
ness upon ’Tildy. Uncle Remus smiled contemptuously, seeing 
which ’Tildy straightened herself, tossed her head, and closed her 
eyes with an air of indescribable scorn. 

“I dunner what Brer Rabbit mout er done,” she exclaimed; 
“but I lay ef dey’s any ole nigger man totin’ a cunjer-bag in dis 
neighborhood, he’ll git mighty tired un it ’fo’ it do ’im any good 
— I lay dat!” 

Daddy Jack chuckled heartily at this, and dropped off to sleep 
so suddenly that the little boy thought he was playing ’possum. 

169 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


XXXV 

BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST 

“Uncle Remus,” said the child, “do you reckon Brother Rab¬ 
bit really married the young lady?” 

“Bless yo’ soul, honey,” responded the old man, with a sigh, 
“hit b’long ter Brer Jack fer ter tell you dat. ’T ain’t none er my 
tale.” 

“Was n’t that the tale you started to tell?” 

“Who? Me? Shoo! I ain’t’sputin’but w’at Brer Jack tale des 
ez purty ez dey er any needs fer, yit’t ain’t none er my tale.” 

At this, the little boy laid his head upon Uncle Remus’s knee 
and waited. 

“Now, den,” said the old man, with an air of considerable im¬ 
portance, “we er got ter go ’way back behime dish yer yaller- 
gater doin’s w’at Brer Jack bin mixin’ us up wid. Ef I makes no 
mistakes wid my ’membunce, de place wharbouts I lef’ off wuz 
whar Brer Rabbit had so many ’p’intments fer ter keep out de 
way er de t’er creeturs dat he ’gun ter feel monst’us humblyfied. 
Let um be who dey will, you git folks in a close place ef you wan ter 
see um shed der proudness. Dey beg mo’ samer dan a nigger w’en 
de patter-rollers ketch ’im. Brer Rabbit ain’t ko no beggin’, ’kaze 
dey ain’t kotch; yit dey come so nigh it, he ’gun ter feel he weak¬ 
ness. 

“W’en Brer Rabbit feel dis a-way, do he set down flat er de 
groun’ en let de t’er creeturs rush up en grab ’im? He mought do 
it deze days, ’kaze times done change; but in dem days he des 
tuck’n sot up wid hisse’f en study ’bout w’at he gwine do. He 
study en study, en las’ he up’n tell he ole ’oman, he did, dat he 
gwine on a journey. Wid dat, ole Miss Rabbit, she tuck’n fry ’im 
up a rasher er bacon, en bake ’im a pone er bread. Brer Rabbit 
tied dis up in a bag en tuck down he walkin’ cane en put out.” 

170 


BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST 


“Where was he going, Uncle Remus ?” asked the little 
boy. 

“Lemme ’lone, honey! Lemme sorter git hit up, like. De trail 
mighty cole ’long yer, sho’; ’kaze dish yer tale ain’t come ’cross 
my min’ not sence yo’ gran’pa fotch us all out er Ferginny, en 
dat’s a monst’us long time ago. 

“He put out, Brer Rabbit did, fer ter see ole Mammy-Bammy 
Big-Money.” 

“ Dat ’uz dat ole Witch-Rabbit,” remarked Aunt Tempy, com¬ 
placently. 

“Yasser,” continued Uncle Remus, “de ve’y same ole creetur 
w’at I done tell you ’bout w’en Brer Rabbit los’ he foot. He put 
out, he did, en atter so long a time he git dar. He take time fer 
ter ketch he win’, en den he sorter shake hisse’f up en rustle 
’roun’ in de grass. Bimeby he holler: — 

“‘Mammy-Bammy Big-Money! O Mammy-Bammy Big- 
Money! I journeyed fur, I journeyed fas’; I glad I foun’ de place 
at las’.’ 

“Great big black smoke rise up out er de groun\ en ole 
Mammy-Bammy Big-Money ’low: — 

“‘Wharfo’, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley? Son Riley Rabbit, 
wharfo’?’ 

“Wid dat,” continued Uncle Remus, dropping the sing-song 
tone by means of which he managed to impart a curious dignity 
and stateliness to the dialogue between Brother Rabbit and 
Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, — “wid dat Brer Rabbit up n 
tell ’er, he did, ’bout how he fear’d he losin’ de use er he min’, 
’kaze he done come ter dat pass dat he ain’t kin fool de yuther 
creeturs no mo’, en dey push ’im so closte twel t won t be long fo 
dey’ll git ’im. De ole Witch-Rabbit she sot dar, she did, en suck 
in black smoke en puff it out ’g’in, twel you can t see nothin t 
all but ’er great big eyeballs en ’er great big years. Atter w’ile she 
’low: — 


171 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“ ‘Dar sets a squer’l in dat tree, Son Riley; go fetch dat squer’l 
straight ter me, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley/ 

“Brer Rabbit sorter study, en den he ’low, he did: — 

‘“I ain’t got much sense lef’, yit ef I can’t coax dat chap down 
from dar, den hit’s ’kaze I done got some zeeze w’ich it make me 
fibble in de min’,’ sezee. 

“Wid dat, Brer Rabbit tuck’n empty de provender out’n he 
bag en got ’im two rocks, en put de bag over he head en sot down 
und’ de tree whar he squer’l is. He wait little w’ile, en den he hit 
de rocks tergedder — blip ! 

“ Squer’l he holler, ‘ Hey! ’ 

“Brer Rabbit wait little, en den he tuck’n slap de rocks ter¬ 
gedder — blap ! 

“Squer’l he run down de tree little bit en holler, ‘Heyo!’ 

“Brer Rabbit ain’t sayin’ nothin’. He des pop de rocks ter¬ 
gedder— blopl 

“Squer’l, he come down little furder, he did, en holler, ‘Who 
dat?’ 

“‘Biggidy Dicky Big-Bag!’ 

“‘What you doin’ in dar?’ 

“‘Crackin’ hick’y nuts.’ 

“‘Kin I crack some?’ 

“ ‘Tooby sho’, Miss Bunny Bushtail; come git in de bag.’ 

“Miss Bunny Bushtail hang back,” continued Uncle Remus, 
chuckling; “but de long en de short un it wuz dat she got in de 
bag, en Brer Rabbit he tuck’n kyar’d ’er ter ole Mammy-Bammy 
Big-Money. De ole Witch-Rabbit, she tuck’n tu’n de squer’l 
a-loose, en ’low: — 

“ ‘Dar lies a snake in ’mungs’ de grass, Son Riley; go fetch ’im 
yer, en be right fas’, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.’ 

“Brer Rabbit look ’roun’, en sho’ nuff dar lay de bigges’ 
kinder rattlesnake, all quile up ready fer business. Brer Rabbit 
scratch he year wid he behime leg, en study. Look lak he gwine 

172 


BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST 

git in trouble. Yit atter w’ile he go off in de bushes, he did, en cut 
’im a young grape-vine, en he fix ’im a slip-knot. Den he come 
back. Snake ’periently look lak he sleep. Brer Rabbit ax ’im how 
he come on. Snake ain’t say nothin’, but he quile up a little tighter, 
en he tongue run out lak it bin had grease on it. Mouf shot, yit 
de tongue slick out en slick back ’fo’ a sheep kin shake he tail. 
Brer Rabbit, he ’low, he did: — 

“ ‘Law, Mr. Snake, I mighty glad I come ’cross you,’ sezee. ‘Me 
en ole Jedge B’ar bin havin’ a tumble ’spute ’bout how long you 
is. We bofe ’gree dat you look mighty purty w’en youer layin’ 
stretch out full lenk in de sun; but Jedge B’ar, he ’low you ain’t 
but th’ee foot long, en I stood ’im down dat you ’uz four foot long 
ef not mo’,’ sezee. ‘En de talk got so hot dat I come mighty nigh 
hittin’ ’im a clip wid my walkin’-cane, en ef I had I boun’ dey’d 
er bin some bellerin’ done ’roun’ dar,’ sezee. 

“Snake ain’t say nothin’, but he look mo’ complassy 1 dan w’at 
he bin lookin’. 

“‘I up’n tole ole Jedge B’ar,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘dat de 
nex’ time I run ’cross you I gwine take’n medjer you; en goodness 
knows I mighty glad I struck up wid you, ’kaze now dey won’t 
be no mo’ ’casion fer any ’sputin’ ’twix’ me en Jedge B’ar,’ sezee. 

“Den Brer Rabbit ax Mr. Snake ef he won’t be so good ez ter 
onquile hisse’f. Snake he feel mighty proud, he did, en he stretch 
out fer all he wuff. Brer Rabbit he medjer, he did, en ’low: — 

‘“Dar one foot fer Jedge B’ar; dar th’ee foot fer Jedge B’ar; 
en, bless goodness, dar four foot fer Jedge B’ar, des lak I say!’ 

“By dat time Brer Rabbit done got ter snake head, en des ez 
de las’ wud drop out’n he mouf, he slip de loop ’roun’ snake neck, 
en den he had ’im good en fas’. He tuck’n drag ’im, he did, up 
ter whar de ole Witch-Rabbit settin’ at; but w’en he git dar, 
Mammy-Bammy Big-Money done make ’er disappearance, but 
he year sump’n’ way off yander, en seem lak it say: — 

1 A mixture of “complacent” and “placid.” Accent on the second syllable. 

17S 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“‘Ef you git any mo’ sense, Son Riley, you’ll be de ruination 
ev de whole settlement, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.’ 

“Den Brer Rabbit drag de snake ’long home, en stew ’im down 
en rub wid de grease fer ter make ’im mo’ ’soopler in de lim’s. 
Bless yo’ soul, honey, Brer Rabbit mought er bin kinder fibble in 
de legs, but he wa’n’t no ways cripple und’ de hat.” 1 


XXXVI 

BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, one night, when he found 
the old man sitting alone in his cabin, “did you ever see Mammy- 
Bammy Big-Money?” 

Uncle Remus placed his elbows on his knees, rested his chin in 
the palms of his hands, and gazed steadily in the fire. Presently 
he said: — 

“W’en folks ’gin ter git ole en no ’count, hit look lak der 
’membunce git slack. Some time hit seem lak I done seed 
sump’n’ n’er mighty nigh de make en color er ole Mammy- 
Bammy Big-Money, en den ag’in seem lak I ain’t. W’en dat de 
case, w’at does I do? Does I stan’ tiptoe en tetch de rafters en 
make lak I done seed dat ole Witch-Rabbit, w’en, goodness knows, 
I ain’t seed ’er? Dat I don’t. No, bless you! I’d say de same in 
comp’ny, much less settin’ in yer ’long side er you. De long en de 
short un it,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis, “ is des dis. 


1 A version of this story makes Brother Rabbit capture a swarm of bees. Mr. W. O. 
Tuggle, of Georgia, who has made an exhaustive study of the Creek Indians, has dis¬ 
covered a variant of the legend. The Rabbit (Chufee) becomes alarmed because he has 
nothing but the nimbleness of his feet to take him out of harm’s way. He goes to his 
Creator and begs that greater intelligence be bestowed upon him. Thereupon the snake 
test is applied, as in the negro story, and the Rabbit also catches a swarm of gnats. He 
is then told that he has as much intelligence as there is any need for, and he goes away 
satisfied. 


174 



“‘EF YOU GIT ANY MO’ SENSE, SON RILEY, YOU’LL BE DE RUINATION EY DE 

WHOLE SETTLEMENT’” 















































































BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM 

Ef I bin run ’crost ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in my day en 
time, den she tuck’n make ’er disappearance dat quick twel I 
ain’t kotch a glimp’ un ’er.” 

The result of this good-humored explanation was that the child 
did n’t know whether Uncle Remus had seen the Witch-Rabbit or 
not, but his sympathies led him to suspect that the old man was 
thoroughly familiar with all her movements. 

“Uncle Remus,” the little boy said, after a while, “if there is 
another story about Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I wish you 
would tell it to me all by my own-alone self.” 

The idea seemed to please the old man wonderfully, and he 
chuckled over it for several minutes. 

“Now, den, honey,” he said, after a while, “you hit me whar 
I’m weak — you mos’ sho’ly does. Comp’ny mighty good fer 
some folks en I kin put up wid it long ez de nex’ un, but you kin 
des take’n pile comp’ny ’pun top er comp’ny, en dey won’t kyore 
de liver complaint. W’en you talk dat a-way you fetches me, 
sho’, en I’ll tell you a tale ’bout de ole Witch-Rabbit ef I hatter 
git down yer on my all-fours en grabble it out’n de ashes. Yit dey 
ain’t no needs er dat, ’kaze de tale done come in my min’ des ez 
fresh ez ef’t was day ’fo’ yistiddy. 

“ Hit seem lak dat one time atter Brer "Wolf tuck’n steal Brer 
Rabbit foot, dey wuz a mighty long fallin’-out ’twix’ um. Brer 
Rabbit, he tuck’n got ashy ’kaze Brer Wolf tuck’n tuck he foot; 
en Brer Wolf, he tuck’n got hot ’kaze Brer Rabbit wuk en wuk 
’roun’ en git he foot ag’in. Hit keep on dis a-way twel bimeby 
de ole Witch-Rabbit sorter git tired er Brer Wolf, en one day 
she tuck’n sont wud ter Brer Rabbit dat she lak mighty well fer 
ter see ’im. 

“Dey fix up der plans, dey did, en’t wa’n’t so mighty long ’fo’ 
Brer Rabbit run inter Brer Wolf house in a mighty big hurry, 
en he ’low, he did: — 

“ ‘Brer Wolf! O Brer Wolf! I des now come fum de river, en 
175 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


des ez sho’ ez youer settin’ in dat cheer, ole Big-Money layin’ dar 
stone dead. Less 1 we go eat ’er up.* 

“‘Brer Rabbit, sho’ly youer jokin’!’ 

“ ‘Brer Wolf, I’m a-ginin ’ 2 un you de fatal fack. Come on, less 
go!’ 

“‘Brer Rabbit, is you sho’ she dead?’ 

“‘Brer Wolf, she done dead; come on, less go!’ 

“En go dey did. Dey went ’roun’ en dey got all de yuther 
creeturs, en Brer Wolf, livin’ so nigh, he let all he chilluns go, en 
’t wa’n’t so mighty long ’fo’ dey had a crowd dar des lak camp- 
meetin’ times. 

“ W’en dey git dar, sho’ nuff, dar lay ole Big-Money all stretch 
out on de river bank. Dis make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en 
he tuck’n stick he han’s in he pocket en strut ’roun’ dar en look 
monst’us biggity. Atter he done tuck’n ’zamine ole Big-Money 
much ez he wanter, he up’n ’low, he did, dat dey better sorter 
rustle ’roun’ en make a fa’r dividjun. He ax Brer Mink, he ax 
Brer Coon, he ax Brer ’Possum, he ax Brer Tarrypin, he ax Brer 
Rabbit, w’ich part dey take, en dey all up’n ’low, dey did, dat 
bein’ ez Brer Wolf de biggest en de heartiest in de neighborhoods 
er de appetite, dey ’speck he better take de fus’ choosement. 

“ Wid dat Brer Wolf, he sot down on a log, en hang he head ter 
one side, sorter lak he ’shame’ er hisse’f. Bimeby, he up’n ’low: — 

“‘Now, den, folks en fr’en’s, sence you shove it on me, de 
shortes’ way is de bes’ way. Brer Coon, we bin good fr’en’s a 
mighty long time; how much er dish yer meat ought a fibble 3 
ole man lak me ter take?’ sezee. 

“ Brer Wolf talk mighty lovin’. Brer Coon snuff de a’r, en ’low: 

“‘I ’speck you better take one er de fo’-quarters. Brer Wolf,’ 
sezee. 

“Brer Wolf look lak he ’stonish’. He lif’ up he han’s, en ’low: 

“ ‘Law, Brer Coon, I tuck you ter be my fr’en’, dat I did. Man 
1 Let us; let’s; less. 2 G hard. 3 Feeble. 

176 


BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM 

w’at talk lak dat ain’t got no feelin’ fer me. Hit make me feel 
mighty lonesome,’ sezee. 

*? i“Den Brer Wolf tu’n ’roun’ en talk mighty lovin’ ter Brer 
Mink: — 

“ ‘ Brer Mink, many’s de day you bin a-knowin’ me; how much 
er dish yer meat you ’speck oughter fall ter my sheer?’ sezee. 

“Brer Mink sorter study, en den he ’low: — 

“‘Bein’ ez you er sech a nice man, Brer Wolf, I ’speck you 
oughter take one er de fo’-quarters, en a right smart hunk off’n 
de bulge er de neck,’ sezee. 

“Brer Wolf holler out, he did: — 

“‘Go ’way, Brer Mink! Go ’way! You ain’t no ’quaintance er 
mine!’ 

“ Den ole Brer Wolf tu’n ’roun’ ter Brer ’Possum en talk lovin’: 

“ ‘Brer ’Possum, I done bin tuck wid a likin’ fer you long time 
’fo’ dis. Look at me, en den look at my fambly, en den tell me, ef 
you be so good, how much er dish yer meat gwine ter fall ter my 
sheer.’ 

“Brer ’Possum, he look ’roun’, he did, en grin, en he up’n ’low: 

“‘Take half, Brer Wolf, take half!’ 

“Den ole Brer Wolf holler out: — 

“‘Shoo, Brer ’Possum! I like you no mo’.’ 

“Den Brer Wolf tu’n to Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin say 
Brer Wolf oughter take all ’cep’ one er de behime quarters, en den 
Brer Wolf ’low dat Brer Tarrypin ain’t no fr’en’ ter him. Den he 
up’n ax Brer Rabbit, en Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n ’spon’, he did: 

“‘Gentermuns all! you see Brer Wolf chillun? Well, dey er all 
monst’us hongry, en Brer Wolf hongry hisse’f. Now I puts dis 
plan straight at you: less we all let Brer Wolf have de fus’ pass at 
Big-Money; less tie ’im on dar, en le’m eat much ez he wanter, en 
den we kin pick de bones,’ sezee. 

“‘Youer my pardner, Brer Rabbit!’ sez Brer Wolf, sezee; 
‘youer my honey-pardner!’ 


177 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Dey all ’gree ter dis plan, mo’ ’speshually ole Brer Wolf, so 
den dey tuck’n tie ’im onter Big-Money. Dey tie ’im on dar, dey 
did, en den ole Brer Wolf look all ’roun’ en wunk at de yuthers. 
Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n wunk back, en den Brer Wolf retch down 
en bite Big-Money on de back er de neck. Co’se, w’en he do dis, 
Big-Money bleedz ter flinch; let ’lone dat, she bleedz ter jump. 
Brer Wolf holler out: — 

“‘Ow! Runyer somebody! Take me off! She ain’t dead! O 
Lordy! I feel ’er move! ’ 

Brer Rabbit holler back: — 

“‘Nummine de flinchin’, Brer Wolf. She done dead; I done 
year ’er sesso 1 ’erse’f. She dead, sho’. Bite er ag’in, Brer Wolf, 
bite ’er ag’in!’ 

“Brer Rabbit talk so stiff, hit sorter tuck de chill off’n Brer 
Wolf, en he dipt down en bit ole Big-Money ag’in. Wid dat, she 
’gun ter move off, en Brer Wolf he holler des lak de woods done 
kotch a-fier: — 

“ ‘Ow! O Lordy! Ontie me, Brer Rabbit, ontie me! She ain’t 
dead! Ow! Run yer, Brer Rabbit, en ontie me! ’ 

“ Brer Rabbit, he holler back: — 

“ ‘ She er sho’ly dead, Brer Wolf! Nail ’er, Brer Wolf! Bite ’er! 
gnyaw ’er!’ 

“Brer Wolf keep on bitin’, en Big-Money keep on movin’ off. 
Bimeby, she git ter de bank er de river, en she fall in — cumber- 
joom! — en dat ’uz de las’ er Brer Wolf.” 

“What did Brother Rabbit do?” the little boy asked, after a 
while. 

“Well,” responded Uncle Remus, in the tone of one anxious to 
dispose of a disagreeable matter as pleasantly as possible, “you 
know w’at kinder man Brer Rabbit is. He des went off some’rs 
by he own-alone se’f en tuck a big laugh.” 

1 Say so. 


178 


BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES 


XXXVII 

BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES 

The next night Daddy Jack was still away when the little boy 
went to see Uncle Remus, and the child asked about him. 

“Bless yo’ soul, honey! don’t ax me ’bout Brer Jack. He look 
lak he mighty ole en trimbly, but he mighty peart nigger, mon. 
He look lak he shufflin’ ’long, but dat ole nigger gits over groun’, 
sho’. Forty year ergo, maybe I mought er kep’ up wid ’im, but 
I let you know Brer Jack is away ’head er me. He mos’ sho’ly 
is.” 

“Why, he’s older than you are, Uncle Remus!” the child ex¬ 
claimed. 

“Dat w’at I year tell. Seem lak hit mighty kuse, but sho’ ez 
youer bawn Brer Jack is a heap mo’ pearter nigger dan w’at ole 
Remus is. He little, yit he mighty hard. Dat’s Brer Jack, up en 
down.” 

Uncle Remus paused and reflected a moment. Then he went 
on: — 

“Talkin’ ’bout Brer Jack put me in min’ ’bout a tale w’ich she 
sho’ly mus’ er happen down dar in dat ar country whar Brer Jack 
come fum, en it sorter ketch me in de neighborhoods er de ’ston- 
ishment ’kaze he ain’t done up’n tell it. I ’speck it done wuk loose 
fum Brer Jack ’membunce.” 

“What tale was that, Uncle Remus?” 

“Seem lak dat one time w’en eve’ything en eve’ybody was 
runnin’ ’long des lak dey bin had waggin grease ’pun urn, ole 
Brer Wolf” — 

The little boy laughed incredulously and Uncle Remus paused 
and frowned heavily. 

“Why, Uncle Remus! how did Brother Wolf get away from 
Mammy-Bammy Big-Money?” 

179 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


The old man’s frown deepened and his voice was full of anger 
as he replied: — 

“Now, den, is I’m de tale, er is de tale me? Tell me dat! Is 
I’m de tale, er is de tale me? Well, den, ef I ain’t de tale en de 
tale ain’t me, den how come you wanter take’n rake me over de 
coals fer?” 

“Well, Uncle Remus, you know what you said. You said that 
was the end of Brother Wolf.” 

“I bleedz ter ’spute dat,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, with the air 
of one performing a painful duty; “I bleedz ter ’spute it. Dat 
w’at de tale say. Ole Remus is one nigger en de tale, hit’s a n’er 
nigger. Yit I ain’t got no time fer ter set back yer en fetch out de 
oggyments.” 

Here the old man paused, closed his eyes, leaned back in his 
chair, and sighed. After a while he said, in a gentle tone: — 

“So den, Brer Wolf done dead, en yer I wuz runnin’ on des 
same lak he wuz done ’live. Well! well! well!” 

Uncle Remus stole a glance at the little boy, and immediately 
relented. 

“Yit,” he went on, “ef I’m ain’t de tale en de tale ain’t me, 
hit ain’t skacely make no diffunce whe’er Brer Wolf dead er 
whe’er he’s a high-primin’ ’roun’ bodder’n ’longer deyuther cree- 
turs. Dead er no dead, dey wuz one time w’en Brer Wolf live in de 
swamp down dar in dat ar country whar Brer Jack come fum, en, 
mo’n dat, he had a mighty likely gal. Look lak all de yuther 
creeturs wuz atter ’er. Dey ’ud go down dar ter Brer Wolf house, 
dey would, en dey ’ud set up en court de gal, en ’joy deyse’f. 

“Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w’ile de skeeters ’gun ter git 
monst’us bad. Brer Fox, he went flyin’ ’roun’ Miss Wolf, en he 
sot dar, he did, en run on wid ’er en fight skeeters des es big ez life 
en twice-t ez natchul. Las’ Brer Wolf, he tuck’n kotch Brer Fox 
slappin’ en fightin’ at he skeeters. Wid dat he tuck’n tuck Brer 
Fox by de off year en led ’im out ter de front gate, en w’en he git 

180 


BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES 

dar, he ’low, he did, dat no man w’at can’t put up wid skeeters 
ain’t gwine ter come a-courtin’ his gal. 

“Den Brer Coon, he come flyin’ ’roun’ de gal, but he ain’t bin 
dar no time skacely ’fo’ he ’gun ter knock at de skeeters; en no 
sooner is he done dis dan Brer Wolf show ’im de do’. Brer Mink, 
he come en try he han’, yit he bleedz ter fight de skeeters, en Brer 
Wolf ax ’im out. 

“Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby all de creeturs bin flyin’ 
’roun’ Brer Wolf’s gal ’ceppin’ it’s ole Brer Rabbit, en w’en he 
year w’at kinder treatments de yuther creeturs bin ketchin’ he 
’low ter hisse’f dat he b’leeve in he soul he mus’ go down ter Brer 
Wolf house en set de gal out one whet ef it’s de las’ ack. 

“No sooner say, no sooner do. Off he put, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ 
he fine hisse’f knockin’ at Brer Wolf front do’. Ole Sis Wolf, she 
tuck’n put down ’er knittin’ en she up’n low, she did: — 

“‘Who dat?’ 

“De gal, she ’uz stannin’ up ’fo’ de lookin’-glass sorter primpin’, 
en she choke back a giggle, she did, en ’low: — 

“‘Sh-h-h! My goodness, mammy! dat’s Mr. Rabbit. I year 
de gals say he’s a mighty prop-en-tickler 1 gentermun, en I des 
hope you ain’t gwine ter set dar en run on lak you mos’ allers 
does w’en I got comp’ny ’bout how much soap-grease you done 
save up en how many kitten de ole cat got. I gits right ’shame’ 
sometimes, dat I does!’” 

The little boy looked astonished. 

“Did she talk that way to her mamma?” he asked. 

“ Shoo , chile! ’Mungs’ all de creeturs dey ain’t no mo’ kuse 
creeturs dan de gals. Ole ez I is, ef I wuz ter start in dis minnit 
fer ter tell you how kuse de gals is, en de Lord wuz ter spar’ me 
plum twel I git done, yo’ head ’ud be gray, en Remus ’ud be des 
twice-t ez ole ez w’at he is right now.” 

“Well, what did her mamma say, Uncle Remus?” 

1 Proper and particular. 

.181 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Ole Sis Wolf, she sot dar, she did, en settle ’er cap on ’er head, 
en snicker, en look at de gal lak she monst’us proud. De gal, she 
tuck’n shuck ’erse’f ’fo’ de lookin’-glass a time er two, en den she 
tipt ter de do’ en open’ it little ways en peep out des lak she 
skeer’d some un gwine ter hit ’er a clip side de head. Dar stood 
ole Brer Rabbit lookin’ des ez slick ez a race-hoss. De gal, she 
tuck’n laff, she did, en holler: — 

“‘W’y law, maw! hit’s Mr. Rabbit, en yer we bin ’fraid it ’uz 
some ’un w’at ain’t got no business ’roun’ yer!’ 

“Ole Sis Wolf she look over ’er specks, en snicker, en den she 
up’n ’low: — 

“‘Well, don’t keep ’im stannin’ out dar all night. Ax ’im in, 
fer goodness sake.’ 

“Den de gal, she tuck’n drap ’er hankcher, en Brer Rabbit, he 
dipt down en grab it en pass it ter ’er wid a bow, en de gal say she 
much ’blige, ’kaze dat ’uz mo’ den Mr. Fox ’ud er done, en den she 
ax Brer Rabbit how he come on, en Brer Rabbit ’low he right 
peart, en den he ax ’er wharbouts ’er daddy, en ole Sis Wolf ’low 
she go fine ’im. 

“’T wa’n’t long ’fo’ Brer Rabbit year Brer Wolf stompin’ de 
mud off’n he foots in de back po’ch, en den bimeby in he come. 
Dey shuck han’s, dey did, en Brer Rabbit say dat w’en he go 
callin’ on he ’quaintunce, hit ain’t feel natchul ’ceppin’ de man er 
de house settin’ ’roun’ some’rs. 

“‘Ef he don’t talk none,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘he kin des 
set up ag’in’ de chimbly-jam en keep time by noddin’.’ 

“But ole Brer Wolf, he one er deze yer kinder mens w’at got 
de wdiimzies , 1 en he up’n ’low dat he don’t let hisse’f git ter 
noddin’ front er comp’ny. Dey run on dis a-way twel bimeby 
Brer Rabbit year de skeeters come zoonin’ ’roun’, en claimin’ 
kin wid ’im.” 

1 In these latter days a man with the whimzies, or whimsies, is known simply as a 
crank. 


182 


BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES 

The little boy laughed; but Uncle Remus was very serious. 

“Co’se dey claim kin wid ’im. Dey claims kin wid folks yit, 
let ’lone Brer Rabbit. Manys en manys de time w’en I year um 
sailin’ ’roun’ en singin’ out ‘ Cousin! Cousin /’ en I let you know, 
honey, de skeeters is mighty close kin w’en dey gits ter be yo’ 
cousin. 

“Brer Rabbit, he year um zoonin’,” the old man continued, “en 
he know he got ter do some mighty nice talkin’, so he up’n ax fer 
drink er water. De gal, she tuck’n fotch it. 

“ ‘Mighty nice water, Brer Wolf.’ ( De skeeters dey zoon .) 1 

“ ‘Some say it too full er wiggletails , 2 Brer Rabbit.’ {De skeeters , 
dey zoon en dey zoon.) 

“ ‘Mighty nice place you got, Brer Wolf.’ {Skeeters dey zoon.) 

“ ‘Some say it too low in de swamp, Brer Rabbit.’ {Skeeters dey 
zoon en dey zoon.) 

“Dey zoon so bad,” said Uncle Remus, drawing a long breath, 
“dat Brer Rabbit ’gun ter git skeer’d, en w’en dat creetur git 
skeer’d, he min’ wuk lak one er deze yer flutter-mills. Bimeby, 
he ’low: — 

“‘Went ter town t’er day, en dar I seed a sight w’at I never 
’speckted ter see.’ 

“‘W’at dat, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘Spotted hoss, Brer Wolf.’ 

“‘No, Brer Rabbit!’ 

“‘I mos’ sho’ly seed ’im, Brer Wolf.’ 

“Brer Wolf, he scratch he head, en de gal she hilt up ’er han’s 
en make great ’miration ’bout de spotted hoss. {De skeeters dey 
zoon , en dey keep on zoonin 9 .) Brer Rabbit, he talk on, he did: — 

“‘T wa’n’t des one spotted hoss, Brer Wolf, ’t wuz a whole 
team er spotted hosses, en dey went gallin’-up 3 des lak de yuther 

1 The information in parentheses is imparted in a low, impressive, confidential tone. 

2 Is it necessary to say that the wiggletail is the embryo mosquito ? 

8 Galloping. 


183 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


hosses,’ sezee. ‘Let ’lone dat, Brer Wolf, my grandaddy wuz 
spotted,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“Gal, she squeal en holler out: — 

“ ‘ W’y, Brer Rabbit! ain’t you ’shame’yo’se’f fer ter be talkin’ 
dat a-way, en ’bout yo’ own-’lone blood kin too? ’ 

“‘Hit’s de naked trufe I’m a-ginin ’ 1 un you,’ sez Brer Rabbit, 
sezee. ( Skeeter zoon en come closeter.) 

“Brer Wolf ’low ‘Well — well — well!’ Ole Sis Wolf, she ’low 
‘Tooby sho’ly, tooby sho’ly!’ (Skeeter zoon en come nigher en 
nigher .) Brer Rabbit ’low: — 

“ ‘Yasser! Des ez sho’ ez youer settin’ dar, my grandaddy wuz 
spotted. Spotted all over. ( Skeeter come zoonin 9 up en light on 
Brer Rabbit jaw.) He wuz dat. He had er great big spot right 
yer!”’ 

Here Uncle Remus raised his hand and struck himself a re¬ 
sounding slap on the side of the face where the mosquito was sup¬ 
posed to be, and continued: — 

“No sooner is he do dis dan ne’r skeeter come zoonin’ ’roun’ en 
light on Brer Rabbit leg. Brer Rabbit, he talk, en he talk: — K 

“ ‘ Po’ ole grandaddy! I boun’ he make you laff, he look so funny 
wid all dem spots en speckles. He had spot on de side er de head, 
whar I done show you, en den he had n’er big spot right yer on de 
leg,’ sezee.” 

Uncle Remus slapped himself on the leg below the knee, and 
was apparently so serious about it that the little boy laughed 
loudly. The old man went on: — 

“Skeeter zoon en light ’twix’ Brer Rabbit shoulder-blades. 
Den he talk: — 

“‘B’leeve me er not b’leeve me ef you min’ to, but my gran¬ 
daddy had a big black spot up yer on he back w’ich look lak 
saddle-mark.’ 

“ Blip Brer Rabbit tuck hisse'f on de back l 

1 G hard as in give. 

184 


THE PIMMERLY PLUM 


“Skeeter sail ’roun’ en zoon en light down yer beyan de hip¬ 
bone. He say he grandaddy got spot down dar. 

“Blip he tuck hisse’f beyan de hip-bone . 

“Hit keep on dis a-way,” continued Uncle Remus, who had 
given vigorous illustrations of Brer Rabbit’s method of killing 
mosquitoes while pretending to tell a story, “twel bimeby ole 
Brer Wolf en ole Sis Wolf dey lissen at Brer Rabbit twel dey ’gun 
ter nod, en den ole Brer Rabbit en de gal dey sot up dar en kill 
skeeters right erlong.” 

“Did he marry Brother Wolf’s daughter?” asked the little boy. 

“I year talk,” replied Uncle Remus, “dat Brer Wolf sont Brer 
Rabbit wud nex’ day dat he kin git de gal by gwine atter ’er, but 
I ain’t never year talk ’bout Brer Rabbit gwine. De day atter- 
wuds wuz mighty long time, en by den Brer Rabbit moughter had 
some yuther projick on han’.” 1 

XXXVIII 

THE PIMMERLY PLUM 

One night, when the little boy had grown tired of waiting for a 
story, he looked at Uncle Remus and said: — 

“I wonder what ever became of old Brother Tarrypin.” 

Uncle Remus gave a sudden start, glanced all around the cabin, 
and then broke into a laugh that ended in a yell like a view-halloo. 

“Well, well, well! How de name er goodness come you ter 
know w’at runnin’ on in my min’, honey? Mon, you skeer’d me; 
you sho’ly did; en w’en I git skeer’d I bleedz ter holler. Let ’lone 
dat, ef I keep on gittin’ skeerder en skeerder, you better gimme 

1 This story, the funniest and most characteristic of all the negro legends, cannot be 
satisfactorily told on paper. It is full of action, and all the interest centres in the ges¬ 
tures and grimaces that must accompany an explanation of Brother Rabbit’s method of 
disposing of the mosquitoes. The story was first called to my attention by Mr. Marion 
Erwin, of Savannah, and it is properly a coast legend, but I have heard it told by three 
Middle Georgia negroes. 


185 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

room, ’kaze ef I can’t git ’way fum dar somebody gwine ter git 
hurted, en deyer gwine ter git hurted bad. I tell you dat right 
pine-blank . 1 

“Ole Brer Tarrypin!” continued Uncle Remus in a tone of 
exultation. “Ole Brer Tarrypin! Now, who bin year tell er de 
beat er dat? Dar you sets studyin’ ’bout ole Brer Tarrypin, en 
yer I sets studyin’ ’bout ole Brer Tarrypin. Hit make me feel so 
kuse dat little mo’ en I’d ’a’ draw’d my Rabbit-foot en shuck it 
at you.” 

The little boy was delighted when Uncle Remus went off into 
these rhapsodies. However nonsensical they might seem to 
others, to the child they were positively thrilling, and he listened 
with rapt attention, scarcely daring to stir. 

“Ole Brer Tarrypin? Well, well, well! — 

“ ‘ Wen in he prime 
He tuck he time / * 

“Dat w’at make he hoi’ he age so good. Dey tells me dat some¬ 
body ’cross dar in Jasper county tuck’n kotch a Tarrypin w’ich 
he got marks cut in he back dat ’uz put dar ’fo’ our folks went fer 
ter git revengeance in de Moccasin war. Dar whar yo’ Unk’ 
Jeems bin,” Uncle Remus explained, noticing the little boy’s look 
of astonishment. 

“Oh!” exclaimed the child, “that was the Mexican war.” 

“Well,” responded Uncle Remus, closing his eyes with a sigh, 
“I ain’t one er deze yer kinder folks w’at choke deyse’f wid 
names. One name ain’t got none de ’vantage er no yuther name. 
En ef de Tarrypin got de marks on ’im, hit don’t make no diffunce 
whe’er yo’ Unk’ Jeems Abercrombie git his revengeance out’n de 
Moccasin folks, er whe’er he got it out’n de Mackersons.” 

“Mexicans, Uncle Remus.” 

“Tooby sho’, honey; let it go at dat. But don’t less pester ole 
Brer Tarrypin wid it, ’kaze he done b’long ter a tribe all by he 
1 Point-blank. 

186 


THE PIMMERLY PLUM 


own-’lone se’f. — I ’clar’ ter gracious,” exclaimed the old man 
after a pause, “ef hit don’t seem periently lak’t wuz yistiddy!” 

“What, Uncle Remus?” 

“Oh, des ole Brer Tarrypin, honey; des ole Brer Tarrypin en a 
tale w’at I year ’bout ’im, how he done tuck’n do Brer Fox.” 

“Did he scare him, Uncle Remus?” the little boy asked, as the 
old man paused. 

“No, my goodness! Wuss’n dat!” 

“Did he hurt him?” 

“No, my goodness! Wuss’n dat!” 

“Did he kill him?” 

“No, my goodness! Lots wuss’n dat!” 

“Now, Uncle Remus, what did he do to Brother Fox?” 

“Honey!” — here the old man lowered his voice as if about to 
describe a great outrage — “Honey! he tuck’n make a fool out’n 
’im!” 

The child laughed, but it was plain that he failed to appreciate 
the situation, and this fact caused Uncle Remus to brighten up 
and go on with the story. 

“One time w’en de sun shine down mighty hot, ole Brer Tarry¬ 
pin wuz gwine ’long down de road. He ’uz gwine ’long down, en 
he feel mighty tired; he puff, en he blow, en he pant. He breff 
come lak he got de azmy ’way down in he win’-pipe; but, num- 
mine! he de same ole Creep-um-crawl-um Have-some-fun-um. 
He ’uz gwine ’long down de big road, ole Brer Tarrypin wuz, en 
bimeby he come ter de branch. He tuck’n crawl in, he did, en got 
’im a drink er water, en den he crawl out on t’er side en set down 
und’ de shade un a tree. Atter he sorter ketch he win’, he look up 
at de sun fer ter see w’at time er day is it, en, lo en beholes! he 
tuck’n skivver dat he settin’ in de shade er de sycamo’ tree. No 
sooner is he skivver dis dan he sing de ole song: — 

“ ‘ Good luck ter dem w’at come and go , 

W’at set in de shade er de sycamo’ * 

187 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Brer Tarrypin he feel so good en de shade so cool, dat’t wa’n’t 
long ’fo’ he got ter noddin’, en bimeby he drapt off en went soun’ 
asleep. Co’se, Brer Tarrypin kyar he house wid ’im eve’ywhar he 
go, en w’en he fix fer ter go ter sleep, he des shet de do 5 en pull to 
de winder-shetters, en dar he is des ez snug ez de ole black cat 
und’ de barn. 

“Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en sleep, en sleep. He dunner 
how long he sleep, but bimeby he feel somebody foolin’ ’long wid 
’im. He keep de do’ shet, en he lay dar en lissen. He feel some¬ 
body tu’nin’ he house ’roun’ en ’roun’. Dis sorter skeer Brer 
Tarrypin, ’kaze he know dat ef dey tu’n he house upside down 
he ull have all sorts er times gittin’ back. Wid dat, he open de do’ 
little ways, en he see Brer Fox projickin’ wid ’im. He open de do’ 
little furder, he did, en he break out in a great big hoss-laff, en 
holler: — 

“‘Well! well, well! Who’d ’a’ thunk it! Ole Brer Fox, cuter dan 
de common run, is done come en kotch me. En he come at sech a 
time, too! I feels dat full twel I can’t see straight skacely. Ef dey 
wuz any jealousness proned inter me, I’d des lay yer en pout 
’kaze Brer Fox done fine out whar I gits my Pimmerly Plum.’ 

“In dem days,” continued Uncle Remus, speaking to the child’s 
look of inquiry, “de Pimmerly Plum wuz monst’us skace. Leavin’ 
out Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin dey wa’n’t none er de yuther 
creeturs dat yuvver got a glimp’ un it, let ’lone a tas’e. So den 
w’en Brer Fox year talk er de Pimmerly Plum, bless gracious! he 
h’ist up he head en let Brer Tarrypin ’lone. Brer Tarrypin keep 
on laffin’ en Brer Fox ’low: — 

“‘Hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes my mouf water! Whar- 
’bouts de Pimmerly Plum?’ 

“Brer Tarrypin, he sorter cle’r up de ho’seness in he th’oat, en 
sing: — 

u *Poun' er sugar , en a pint er rum , 

Ain't nigh so sweet ez de Pimmerly Plum l' 

188 


THE PIMMERLY PLUM 


“Brer Fox, he lif’ up he han’s, he did, en holler: — 

“‘Oh, hush. Brer Tarrypin! you makes me dribble! Whar- 
’bouts dat Pimmerly Plum?’ 

“‘You stannin’ right und’ de tree, Brer Fox!’ 

“‘Brer Tarrypin, sho’ly not ! 5 

“‘Yit dar you stan’s, Brer Fox!’ 

“Brer Fox look up in de tree dar, en he wuz ’stonish’.” 

“What did he see in the sycamore tree, Uncle Remus?” in¬ 
quired the little boy. 

There was a look of genuine disappointment on the old man’s 
face, as he replied: — 

“De gracious en de goodness, honey! Ain’t you nev’ is see dem 
ar little bit er balls w’at grow on de sycamo’ tree?” 1 

The little boy laughed. There was a huge sycamore tree in the 
centre of the circle made by the carriage way in front of the “big 
house,” and there were sycamore trees of various sizes all over the 
place. The little balls alluded to by Uncle Remus are very hard 
at certain stages of their growth, and cling to the tree with won¬ 
derful tenacity. Uncle Remus continued: — 

“Well, den, w’en ole Brer Tarrypin vouch dat dem ar sycamo’ 
balls wuz de ginnywine Pimmerly Plum, ole Brer Fox, he feel 
mighty good, yit he dunner how he gwine git at um. Push ’im 
clos’t, en maybe he mought beat Brer Tarrypin clammin’ a tree, 
but dish yer sycamo’ tree wuz too big fer Brer Fox fer ter git he 
arms ’roun’. Den he up’n ’low: — 

“‘I sees um hangin’ dar, Brer Tarrypin, but how I gwine git 
um?’ 

“Brer Tarrypin open he do’ little ways en holler out: — 

“‘Ah-yi! Dar whar ole Slickum Slow-come got de ’vantage! 
Youer mighty peart, Brer Fox, yit somehow er nudder you ain’t 
bin a-keepin’ up wid ole Slickum Slow-come.’ 

1 In another version of this story current among the negroes the sweet-gum tree 
takes the place of the sycamore. 


189 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“‘Brer Tarrypin, how de name er goodness does you git urn?* 

“‘Don’t do no good fer ter tell you, Brer Fox. Nimble heel 
make restless min’. You ain’t got time fer ter wait en git um. Brer 
Fox.’ 

“‘Brer Tarrypin, I got all de week befo’ me.’ 

“‘Ef I tells you, you’ll go en tell all de t’er creeturs, en den 
dat’ll be de las’ er de Pimmerly Plum, Brer Fox.’ 

“‘Brer Tarrypin, dat I won’t. Des try me one time en see/ 

“Brer Tarrypin shet he eye lak he studyin’, en den he ’low: — 

“‘I tell you how I does, Brer Fox. W’en I wants a bait er de 
Pimmerly Plum right bad, I des takes my foot in my han’ en comes 
down yer ter dish yer tree. I comes en I takes my stan\ I gits 
right und’ de tree, en I r’ars my head back en opens my mouf. I 
opens my mouf, en w’en de Pimmerly Plum draps, I boun’ you she 
draps right spang in dar. All you got ter do is ter set en wait, 
Brer Fox/ 

“Brer Fox ain’t sayin’ nothin’. He des sot down und’ de tree, 
he did, en r’ar’d he head back, en open he mouf, en I wish ter good¬ 
ness you mought er bin had er chance fer ter see ’im settin’ dar. 
He look scan’lous, dat’s de long en de short un it; he des look 
scan’lous.” 

“Did he get the Pimmerly Plum, Uncle Remus?” asked the 
little boy. 

“Shoo! How he gwine git plum whar dey ain’t no plum?” 

“Well, what did he do?” 

“He sot dar wid he mouf wide open, en eve’y time Brer Tarry¬ 
pin look at ’im, much ez he kin do fer ter keep from bustin’ aloose 
en laffin’. But bimeby he make he way todes home, Brer Tarry¬ 
pin did, chucklin’ en laffin’, en ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he meet Brer 
Rabbit tippin’ ’long down de road. Brer Rabbit, he hail ’im. 

“‘W’at ’muze you so mighty well, Brer Tarrypin?’ 

“Brer Tarrypin kotch he breff atter so long a time, en he 
’low: — 


190 


THE PIMMERLY PLUM 


“ ‘ Brer Rabbit, I’m dat tickle’ twel I can’t shuffle ’long, skacely, 
en I’m fear’d ef I up’n tell you de ’casion un it, I’ll be tooken 
wid one er my spells whar folks hatter set up wid me ’kaze I laff 
so loud en laff so long.’ 

“ Yit atter so long a time, Brer Tarrypin up’n tell Brer Rabbit, 
en dey sot dar en chaw’d terbacker en kyar’d on des lak sho’ 
’nuff folks. Dat dey did!” 

Uncle Remus paused; but the little boy wanted to know what 
became of Brer Fox. 

“Hit’s mighty kuse,” said the old man, stirring around in the 
ashes as if in search of a potato, “but endurin’ er all my days I 
ain’t nev’ year nobody tell ’bout how long Brer Fox sot dar wait¬ 
in’ fer de Pimmerly Plum.” 



















grother jpbbit 
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XXXIX 

BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS 


The next time the little boy called on Uncle Remus a bright fire 
was blazing on the hearth. He could see the light shining under the 
door before he went into the cabin, and he knew by that sign that 
the old man had company. In fact, Daddy Jack had returned 
and was dozing in his accustomed corner, Aunt Tempy was sit¬ 
ting bolt upright, nursing her contempt, and Uncle Remus was 
making a curious-looking box. None of the negroes paid any at¬ 
tention to the little boy when he entered, but somehow he felt 
that they were waiting for him. After a while Uncle Remus fin¬ 
ished his curious-looking box and laid it upon the floor. Then he 
lifted his spectacles from his nose to the top of his head, and re¬ 
marked: — 

“Now, den, folks, dar she is, en hit’s bin so long sence I uv 
made one un um dat she make me sweat. Yasser! She did dat. 
Howsumev’, hit ain’t make no diffunce wid me. Promise is a 
promise, dough you make it in de dark er de moon. Long time ago, 
I tuck’n promise one er my passin’ ’quaintance dat some er deze 
lonesome days de ole nigger’d whirl in en make ’im a rabbit-trap 
ef he’d des be so good ez to quit he devilment, en l’arn he be- 
havishness.” 

“Is that my rabbit-trap. Uncle Remus?” exclaimed the child. 
He would have picked it up for the purpose of examining it, but 
Uncle Remus waved him off with a dignified gesture. 

“Don’t you dast ter tetch dat ar trap, honey, ’kaze ef you does, 
dat spiles all. I’ll des hatter go ter wuk en make it bran-new, en 
de Lord knows I ain’t got no time fer ter do dat.” 

“Well, Uncle Remus, you’ve had your hands on it.” 

195 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Tooby sho’ I is — tooby sho’ I is! En w’at’s mo’ dan dat, I 
bin had my han’s in tar-water.” 

“I year talk er dat,” remarked Aunt Tempy, with an approv¬ 
ing nod. 

“Yasser! in de nat’al tar-water,” continued Uncle Remus. 
“ You put yo’ han’ in'a pa’tridge nes’, en he’ll quit dem premises 
dough he done got ’lev’m dozen aigs in dar. Same wid Rabbit. 
Dey ain’t got sense lak de ole-time Rabbit, but I let you know dey 
ain’t gwine in no trap whar dey smell folks’ han’s — dat dey ain’t. 
Dat w’at make I say w’at I does. Don’t put yo’ han’ on it; don’t 
tetch it; don’t look at it skacely.” 

The little boy subsided, but he continued to cast longing looks 
at the trap, seeing which Uncle Remus sought to change the cur¬ 
rent of his thoughts. 

“She bin er mighty heap er trouble, mon, yet I mighty glad I 
tuck’n make dat ar trap. She’s a solid un, sho’, en ef dey wuz ter 
be any skaceness er vittles, I lay dat ar trap ’ud help us all out.” 

“De Lord knows,” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, rubbing her fat 
hands together, “I hope dey ain’t gwine ter be no famishin’ ’roun’ 
yer ’mungs we all.” 

“Likely not,” said Uncle Remus, “yet de time mought come 
w’en a big swamp rabbit kotch in dat ar trap would go a mighty 
long ways in a fambly no bigger dan w’at mine is.” 

“Mo’ speshually,” remarked Aunt Tempy, “ef you put dat 
wid w’at de neighbors mought sen’ in.” 

“Eh-eh!” Uncle Remus exclaimed, “don’t you put no ’pen- 
nunce in dem neighbors — don’t you do it. W’en famine time 
come one man ain’t no better dan no yuther man ’ceppin’ he be 
soopless; en he got ter be mighty soople at dat.” 

The old man paused and glanced at the little boy. The child 
was still looking longingly at the trap, and Uncle Remus leaned 
forward and touched him lightly on the shoulder. It was a famil¬ 
iar gesture, gentle and yet rough, a token of affection, and yet a 

196 


BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS 


command to attention; for the venerable darkey could be impe¬ 
rious enough when surrendering to the whims of his little partner. 

“All dish yer talk ’bout folks pe’shin’ out,” Uncle Remus went 
on with an indifferent air, “put me in min’ er de times w’en de 
creeturs tuck’n got up a famine ’mungs deyse’f. Hit come ’bout 
dat one time vittles wuz monst’us skace en high, en money mighty 
slack. Long ez dey wuz any vittles gwine ’roun’, Brer Rabbit, he 
’uz boun’ ter git he sheer un um, but bimeby hit come ter dat pass 
dat Brer Rabbit stomach ’gun ter pinch ’im; en w’iles he gettin’ 
hongry de yuther creeturs, dey ’uz gettin’ hongry deyse’f. Hit 
went on dis a-way twel one day Brer Rabbit en Brer Wolf meet 
up wid one er n’er in de big road, en atter dey holler howdy dey 
sat down, dey did, en make a bargain. 

“Dey tuck’n ’gree wid one er n’er dat dey sell der mammy en 
take de money en git sump’n’ n’er ter eat. Brer Wolf, he ’low, he 
did, dat bein’’s hit seem lak he de hongriest creetur on de face er 
de yeth, dat he sell his mammy fus’, en den, atter de vittles gin 
out, Brer Rabbit he kin sell he own mammy en git some mo’ 
grub. ♦ 

“Ole Brer Rabbit, he chipt in en ’greed, he did, en Brer Wolf, 
he tuck’n hitch up he team, en put he mammy in de waggin, en 
den him en Brer Rabbit druv off. Man come ’long: — 

“‘Whar you gwine?’ 

“ * Gwine ’long down ter town, 

Wid a bag er co’nfer ter sell; 

We ain’t got timefer ter stop en talk, 

Yit we wish you mighty well!’” 

“Did they talk poetry that way, Uncle Remus?” the little boy 
inquired. 

“Shoo! lot’s wuss dan dat, honey. Dey wuz constant a-gwine 
on dat a-way, en ef I wa’n’t gittin’ so mighty weak-kneed in de 
membunce I’d bust aloose yer en I’d fair wake you up wid de 
gwines on er dem ar creeturs. 


197 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Now, den, dey tuck’n kyar Brer Wolf mammy ter town en 
sell ’er, en dey start back wid a waggin-load er vittles. De day 
wuz a-wanin’ den de sun wuz a-settin’. De win’ tuck’n blow up 
sorter stiff, en de sun look red when she settin\ Dey druv on, en 
druv on. De win’ blow, en de sun shine red. Bimeby, Brer Wolf 
scrooch up en shiver, en ’low: — 

“‘Brer Rabbit, I’m a-gittin’ mighty cole/ 

“Brer Rabbit, he laugh en ’low: — 

“‘I’m gittin’ sorter creepy myself, Brer Wolf.’ 

“Dey druv on en druv on. Win’blow keen, sun shine red. Brer 
Wolf scrooch up in little knot. Bimeby he sing out: — 

“‘Brer Rabbit, I’m freezin’! I’m dat cole I dunner w’at ter 
do! ’ < 

“Brer Rabbit, he p’int ter de settin’ sun en say: — 

“‘You see dat great big fier ’cross dar in de woods. Brer Wolf? 
Well, dey ain’t nothin’ ter hender you fum gwine dar en wommin’ 
yo’se’f en I ’ll wait yer fer you. Gimme de lines. Brer Wolf, en you 
go worn yo’se’f all over.’ 

“Wid dat Brer Wolf, he put out des ez hard ez he kin, fer ter 
see ef he can’t fin’ de fier; en w’iles he wuz gone, bless goodness, 
w’at should Brer Rabbit do but cut off de hosses’ tails en stick 
um down deep in de mud —” 

“Le’ ’im ’lone, now! Des le’ ’im ’lone!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy 
in an ecstasy of admiration. 

1 “He stick de hosses’ tails down in de mud,” continued Uncle 
Remus, “en den he tuck’n druv de waggin ’way off in de swamp 
en hide it. Den he tuck’n come back, ole Brer Rabbit did, fer ter 
wait fer Brer Wolf. 

“Atter so long a time, sho’ ’nuff, yer come Brer Wolf des 
a-gallin’-up back. Brer Rabbit he hail ’im. 

“‘Is you worn yo’se’f, Brer Wolf?’ 

“‘Brer Rabbit, don’t talk! Dat de mos’ ’seetful fier w’at I had 
any speunce un. I run, en I run, en I run, en de mo’ w’at I run de 

198 


BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS 

furder de fier git. De nigher you come ter dat fier de furder hit’s 

off.’ 

‘'Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch hisse’f behime de shoulder- 
blade, en ’low: — 

“‘Nummine ’bout de fier, Brer Wolf. I got sump’n’ yer dat’ll 
worn you up. Ef you ain’t nev’ bin worn befo’, I lay you’ll get 
worn dis time.’ 

“Dis make Brer Wolf sorter look ’roun’, en w’en he see Brer 
Rabbit hol’in’ on ter de two hoss-tails, he up’n squall out, he 
did: — 

“‘Lawdy mussy. Brer Rabbit! Whar my vittles? Whar my 
waggin? Whar my hosses?’ 

“ ‘Dey er all right yer. Brer Wolf; dey er all right yer. I stayed 
dar whar you lef’ me twel de hosses gun ter git restless. Den I 
cluck at um, en, bless gracious, dey start off en lan’ in a quicksan’. 
W’en dey gun ter mire, I des tuck’n tu’n eve’ything a-loose en 
grab de hosses by de tail, en I bin stan’in’ yer wishin’ fer you, Brer 
Wolf, twel I done gone gray in de min’. I ’low ter myse’f dat I’d 
hang on ter deze yer hoss-tails ef it killt eve’y cow in de islan’. 
Come he’p me, Brer Wolf, en I lay we’ll des nat’ally pull de 
groun’ out but w’at we’ll git deze creeturs out.’ 

“Wid dat, Brer Wolf, he kotch holt er one hoss-tail, en Brer 
Rabbit, he kotch holt er de yuther, en w’en dey pull, co’se de tails 
come out’n de mud. Dey stood dar, dey did, en dey look at de 
tails en den dey look at one n’er. Bimeby Brer Rabbit ’low: — 

“‘Well, sir. Brer Wolf; we pull so hard twel we pull de tails 
plum out!’ 

“Ole Brer Wolf, he dunner w’at ter do, but it ’gun ter git dark, 
en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he tell Brer Rabbit good-by, en off he put fer 
home. Dat ar Brer Rabbit,” Uncle Remus went on, “he des 
tuck’n wait twel Brer Wolf git out’n yearin’, en den he went into 
de swamp en druv de hosses home en git all de vittles, en he ain’t 
hatter sell he ole mammy n’er. Dat he ain’t.” 

199 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


XL 

“CUTTA CORD-LA!” 

To all appearances Daddy Jack had taken no interest in Uncle 
Remus’s story of the horses’ tails, and yet, as soon as the little 
boy and Aunt Tempy were through laughing at a somewhat 
familiar climax, the old African began to twist and fidget in his 
chair, and mumble to himself in a lingo which might have been 
understood on the Guinea coast, but which sounded out of place 
in Uncle Remus’s Middle Georgia cabin. Presently, however, his 
uneasiness took tangible shape. He turned around and exclaimed 
impatiently: — 

“Shuh-shuh! w’en you sta’t fer tell-a dem tale, wey you no tell 
um lak dey stan’? ’E bery bad fer twis’ dem tale ’roun’ un ’roun\ 
Wey you no talk um stret?” 

“Well, Brer Jack,” said Uncle Remus, smiling good-humoredly 
upon the queer little old man, “ef we done gone en got dat ar tale 
all twis’ up, de way fer you ter do is ter whirl in en ontwis’ it, en 
we-all folks ’ll set up yer en he’p you out plum twel Mars John 
comes a-hollerin’ en a-bawlin’ atter dish yer baby; en atter he 
done gone ter bed, den me en Sis Tempy yer we ull set up wid you 
plum twel de chickens crow fer day. Dem’s de kinder folk we all is 
up yer. We ain’t got many swimps en crabs up yer in Putmon 
county, but w’en it come ter settin’ up wid comp’ny en hangin' 
’roun’ atter dark fer ter make de time pass away, we er mighty 
rank. Now den, Brer Jack, I done call de roll wid my eye, en we 
er all yer ’ceppin’ dat ar ’Tildy gal, en’t won’t be long ’fo’ she’ll 
be a-drappin’ in. Run over in yo’ min’, en whar my tale ’uz 
wrong, des whirl in en put ’er ter rights.” 

“Shuh-shuh!” exclaimed the old African, “Oona no git dem 
tale stret. I yed dem wey me lif; ’e soun’ lak dis: One tarn dem 
bittle bin git bery skace. Da rice crop mek nuttin’; da fish swim 

£00 


CUTTA CORD-LA! 


low; da"bud fly high. Hard times bin come dey-dey. ’E so hard, 
dem creeturs do git honkry fer true. B’er Rabbit un B’er Wolf 
dey come pit bote ’e head tergerrer; dey is mek talk how honkry 
dey is ’way down in da belly. 

“Bumbye, B’er Rabbit, ’e shed ’e y-eye, ’e say dey mus’ kill 
dey gran’mammy. B’er Wolf say ’e mek ’e y-eye come wat’ry 
fer yeddy da talk lak dat. B’er Rabbit say: — 

“‘Ki, B’er Wolf! da water come in you’ y-eye wun you is bin 
honkry. Me y-eye done bin-a come wat’ry so long tarn befo’ I 
bin talky wit’ you ’bout we gran’mammy.’ 

“B’er Wolf, ’e der keep on cryin’; ’e wipe ’e y-eye ’pon ’e coat- 
sleef. B’er Rabbit, ’e bin say: — 

“‘Ef you is bin tek it so ha’d lak dis, B’er Wolf, ’e bery 
good fer kill-a you’ gran’mammy fus’, so you is kin come glad 
ag’in.’ 

“B’er Wolf, ’e go dry ’e y-eye un kill ’e gran’mammy, un dey 
is bin tek ’im gran’mammy off un sell um fer bittle. Dun dey is 
bin eat dis bittle day un night tell ’e all done gone. Wun-a tarn 
come fer B’er Rabbit fer kill ’e gran’mammy, B’er Wolf, ’e go 
bisitin’ ’im. ’E say: — 

“ ‘ B’er Rabbit, I is bin-a feel honkry troo un troo. Less we kill-a 
you’ gran’mammy.’ 

“B’er Rabbit lif’ up ’e head high; ’e lahff. ’E shekky one year, 
’e shed-a one eye. ’E say: — 

“‘Eh-eh, B’er Wolf, you t’ink I gwan kill-a me gran’mammy? 
Oh, no, B’er Wolf! Me no kin do dat.’ 

“ Dis mek B’er Wolf wuss mad den ’e is bin befo’. ’E fair teer de 
yet’ wit’ ’e claw; ’e yowl sem lak Injun mans. ’E say ’e gwan make 
B’er Rabbit kill ’e gran’mammy nohow. 

“B’er Rabbit say ’e gwan see ’im ’bout dis. ’E tek ’e gran’¬ 
mammy by da han’; ’e lead um way off in da woods; ’e hide um 
in da top one big cocoanut tree: ’e tell um fer stay deer.” 

The mention of a cocoanut tree caused the little boy to glance 

£01 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


incredulously at Uncle Remus, who made prompt and character¬ 
istic reply:— 

“Dat’s it, honey; dat’s it, sho\ In dem days en in dem coun¬ 
tries dey wuz plenty er cocoanut trees. Less we all set back yer 
en give Brer Jack a livin’ chance.” - ■*** 

“’E hide ’e gran’mammy in top cocoanut tree,” continued 
Daddy Jack, “un ’e gi’ um lilly bahskit wit’ cord tie on um. In 
de day-mawnin’, B’er Rabbit, ’e is bin go at da foot da tree. ’E 
make ’e v’ice fine: ’e holler: — 

“ ‘ Granny! — Granny l — 0 Granny l Jutta cord-la l 9 
“Wun ’e granny yeddy dis, ’e let bahskit down wit’ da cord, 
un B’er Rabbit ’e fill um wit’ bittle un somet’ing t’eat. Ebry day 
dey is bin-a do dis t’ing; ebry day B’er Rabbit is come fer feed 
’e granny. 

“B’er Wolf ’e watch, ’e lissun; ’e sneak up, ’e creep up, ’e do 
lissun. Bumbye, ’e do yeddy B’er Rabbit call; ’e see da bahskit 
swing down, ’e see um go back. Wun B’er Rabbit bin-a go ’way 
fum dey-dey, B’er Wolf, ’e come by da root da tree. ’E holler; ’e 
do say: — 

“ ‘ Granny ! — Granny 1 — 0 Granny ! Shoot-a cord-la l ’ 

“Da ole Granny Rabbit lissun; ’e bin lissun well. ’E say: — 

“‘Ki! how come dis? Me son is no talky lak dis. ’E no shoot-a 
da cord lak dat.’ 

‘ “ W’en B’er Rabbit come back da granny is bin-a tell um ’bout 
somet’ing come-a holler shoot-a da cord-la, un B’er Rabbit, ’e 
lahff tel ’e is kin lahff no mo’. B’er Wolf, ’e hidin’ close; ’eyed 
B’er Rabbit crackin’ ’e joke; ’e is git bery mad. 

“Wun B’er Rabbit is gone ’way, B’er Wolf bin-a come back. 
’E stan’ by da tree root; ’e holler: — 

“‘ Granny ! — Granny 1 — 0 Granny l Jutta cord-la l ’ 

“ Granny Rabbit hoi’ ’e head ’pon one side; ’e lissun good. ’E say: 
“‘I bery sorry, me son, you bin hab so bad col’. You’ v’ice 
bin-a soun’ rough, me son.’ 

m 


CUTTA CORD-LA! 


“Dun Granny Rabbit is bin peep down; ’e bin say: — 

“‘Hi! B’er Wolf! Go ’way fum dey-dey. You no is bin fool-a 
me lak dis. Go ’way, B’er Wolf!’ 

“B’er Wolf, ’e come bery mad; ’e grin tell ’e tush bin shiiin. 
’E go in da swamp; ’e scratch ’e head; ’e t’ink. Bumbye, ’e go 
bisitin’ one Blacksmit’, un ’e ahx ’im how kin ’e do fer make ’e 
v’ce come fine lak B’er Rabbit v’ice. Da Blacksmit’, ’e say: — 
“‘Come, B’er Wolf; I run dis red-hot poker in you’ t’roat, ’e 
mekky you talk easy.’ 

“B’er Wolf say, ‘Well, I lak you for mekky me v’ice fine.’ 

“Dun da Blacksmit’ run da red-hot poker in B’er Wolf t’roat, 
un ’e hu’t um so bad, ’tiss-a bin long tarn befo’ B’er Wolf kin 
tekky da long walk by da cocoanut tree. Bumbye ’e git so ’e kin 
come by, un wun ’e git dey-dey, ’e holler: — 

“ ‘ Granny l — Granny! — 0 Granny ! Jutta cord-la l ’ 

“Da v’ice soun’ so nice un fine da’ Granny Rabbit is bin t’ink 
’e B’er Rabbit v’ice, un ’e is bin-a let da bahskit down. B’er Wolf, 
’e shekky da cord lak ’e is put some bittle in da bahskit, un dun 
’e is bin-a git in ’ese’f. B’er Wolf, ’e keep still. Da Granny Rab¬ 
bit pull on da cord; ’e do say: — 

“‘Ki! ’e come he’ffy; ’e he’ffy fer true. Me son, ’e love ’e 
Granny heap.’ 

“B’er Wolf, ’e do grin; ’e grin, un ’e keep still. Da Granny Rab¬ 
bit pull; ’e do pull ha’d. ’E pull tel ’e is git B’er Wolf mos’ by da 
top, un dun ’e stop fer res’. B’er Wolf look-a down, e head swim; 
’e look up, ’e mout’ water; ’e look-a down ’g’in, ’e see B’er Rab¬ 
bit. ’E git skeer,’e juk on da rope. B’er Rabbit,’e do holler: 

! “ ‘ Granny l — Granny 1 — 0 Granny 1 Cutta cord-la! ’ 

“Da Granny Rabbit cut da cord, un B’er Wolf is fall down un 
broke ’e neck.” 


m 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE_REMUS 
XLI 

AUNT TEMPY’S STORY 

The little boy observed that Aunt Tempy was very much in¬ 
terested in Daddy Jack’s story. She made no remarks while the 
old African was telling it, but she was busily engaged in measuring 
imaginary quilt patterns on her apron with her thumb and fore¬ 
finger, — a sure sign that her interest had been aroused. When 
Daddy Jack had concluded — when, with a swift, sweeping ges¬ 
ture of his wrinkled hand, he cut the cord and allowed Brother 
Wolf to perish ignominiously — Aunt Tempy drew a long breath, 
and said: — 

“Dat ar tale come ’cross me des like a dream. Hit put me in 
mine er one w’at I year w’en I wuz little bit er gal. Look like I kin 
see myse’f right now, settin’ flat down on de h’ath lis’nin’ at ole 
Unk Monk. You know’d ole Unk Monk, Brer Remus. You bleeze 
ter know’d ’im. Up dar in Ferginny. I ’clar’ ter goodness, it make 
me feel right foolish. Brer Remus, I des know you know’d Unk 
Monk.” 

For the first time in many a day the little boy saw Uncle Remus 
in a serious mood. He leaned forward in his chair, shook his head 
sadly, as he gazed into the fire. 

“Ah, Lord, Sis Tempy!” he exclaimed sorrowfully, “don’t less 
we all go foolin’ ’roun’ ’mungs’ dem ole times. De bes’ kinder 
bread gits sour. W’at’s yistiddy wid us wuz ’fo’ de worl’ begun 
wid dish yer chile. Dat’s de way I looks at it.” 

“Dat’s de Lord’s trufe. Brer Remus,” exclaimed Aunt Tempy 
with unction, “un I mighty glad you call me ter myse’f. Little 
mo’ un I’d er sot right yer un ’a’ gone ’way back to Ferginny, un 
all on ’count er dat ar tale w’at I year long time ago.” 

“What tale was that, Aunt Tempy?” asked the little boy. 

“Eh-eh, honey! ” replied Aunt Tempy, with a display of genuine 
204 


AUNT T.EMPY’S STORY 

bashfulness; “eh-eh, honey! I ’fraid you all ’ll set up dar un laugh 
me outer de house. I ain’t dast ter tell no tale ’long side er Brer 
Remus un Daddy Jack yer. I ’fraid I git it all mix up.” 

The child manifested such genuine disappointment that Aunt 
Tempy relented a little. 

“Ef you all laugh, now,” she said, with a threatening air, “I’m 
des gwine ter pick up en git right out er dish yer place. Dey ain’t 
ter be no laughin’, ’kaze de tale w’at I year in Ferginny ain’t no 
laughin’ tale.” 

With this understanding Aunt Tempy adjusted her head- 
handkerchief, looked around rather sheepishly, as Uncle Remus 
declared afterwards in confidence to the little boy, and began: — 

“Well, den, in de times w’en Brer Rabbit un Brer Fox live 
in de same settlement wid one er ’n’er, de season’s tuck’n come 
wrong. De wedder got hot un den a long dry drouth sot in, un it 
seem like dat de nat’al leaf on de trees wuz gwine ter tu’n ter 
powder.” 

Aunt Tempy emphasized her statements by little backward and 
forward movements of her head, and the little boy would have 
laughed, but a warning glance from Uncle Remus prevented 
him. 

“De leaf on de trees look like dey gwine ter tu’n ter powder, 
un de groun’ look like it done bin cookt. All de truck w’at de 
creeturs plant wuz all parched up, un dey wa’n’t no crops made 
nowhars. Dey dunner w’at ter do. Dey run dis a-way, dey run 
dat a-way; yit w’en dey quit runnin’ dey dunner whar dey bread 
cornin’ frun. Dis de way it look ter Brer Fox, un so one day w en 
he got a mighty hankerin’ atter sumpin’ sorter joosy, he meet 
Brer Rabbit in de lane, un he ax um, sezee: — 

“‘Brer Rabbit, whar’bouts our bread cornin’ frun?’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he bow, he did, un answer, sezee: — 

“‘Look like it mought be cornin’ frun nowhar,’ sezee.” 

“You see dat, honey!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, condescending 
20 5 , 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


to give the story the benefit of his patronage; “ You see dat! Brer 
Rabbit wuz alius a-waitin’ a chance fer ter crack he jokes.” 

“Yas, Lord!” Aunt Tempy continued, with considerable more 
animation; “he joke, un joke, but bimeby, he ain’t feel like no mo’ 
jokin’, un den he up’n say, sezee, dat him un Brer Fox better start 
out ’n take der fammerlies wid um ter town un swap um off for 
some fresh-groun’ meal; un Brer Fox say, sezee, dat dat look 
mighty fa’r un squar’, un den dey tuck’n make dey ’greements. 

“Brer Fox wuz ter s’ply de waggin un team, un he promise dat 
he gwine ter ketch he fammerly un tie um hard un fast wid a red 
twine string. Brer Rabbit he say, sezee, dat he gwine ter ketch 
he fammerly un tie um all, un meet Brer Fox at de fork er de 
road. 

“Sho’ ’nuff, soon in de mawnin’, w’en Brer Fox draw up wid 
he waggin, he holler ‘Wo!’ un Brer Rabbit he tuck’n holler 
back, ‘Wo yo’se’f!’ un den Brer Fox know dey ’uz all dar. Brer 
Fox, he tuck’n sot up on de seat, un all er he fammerly, dey wuz 
a-layin’ under de seat. Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n put all he fammerly 
in de behime een’ er de waggin, un he say, sezee, dat he ’speck he 
better set back dar twel dey git sorter usen ter dey surrounder- 
lings, un den Brer Fox crack he whip, un off dey wen’ toze town. 
Brer Fox, he holler ev’y once in a w’ile, sezee: — 

“‘No noddin’ back dar, Brer Rabbit!’ 

“Brer Rabbit he holler back, sezee: — 

“‘Brer Fox, you miss de ruts en de rocks, un I’ll miss de nod- 
din’.’ 

“But all dat time, bless yo’ soul! Brer Rabbit wuz settin’ dar 
ontyin’ he ole ’oman un he childun, w’ich dey wuz sev’m uv um. 
W’en he git um all ontie, Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n h’ist hisse’f on 
de seat ’long er Brer Fox, un dey sot dar un talk un laugh ’bout 
de all-sorts er times dey gwine ter have w’en dey git de co’n meal. 
Brer Fox sez, sezee, he gwine ter bake hoecake; Brer Rabbit sez, 
sezee, he gwine ter make ashcake. 

206 


AUNT TEMPY’S STORY 

“Des ’bout dis time one er Brer Rabbit’s childun raise hisse’f 
up easy un hop out de waggin. Miss Fox, she sing out: — 

“‘One frun sev'm 
Don't leave 'lev'm 

“ Brer Fox hunch he ole ’oman wid he foot fer ter make ’er keep 
still. Bimeby ’n’er little Rabbit pop up un hop out. Miss Fox 
say, se’ she: — 

“‘Onefrun six 
Leaves me less kicks* 

, “Brer Fox go on talkin’ ter Brer Rabbit, un Brer Rabbit go on 
talkin’ ter Brer Fox, un’t wa’n’t so mighty long ’fo’ all Brer Rab¬ 
bit fammerly done pop up un dive out de waggin, un ev’y time 
one ’ud go Miss Fox she ’ud fit it like she did de yuthers.” 

“What did she say, Aunt Tempy?” asked the little boy, who 
was interested in the rhymes. 

“Des lemme see — 

*“ One f run five 
Leaves four alive; 

*“ One f run four 

Leaves th'ee un no mo'; 

“‘Onefrun th'ee 

Leaves two ter go free; 

*“Onefrun one, 

Un all done gone.'" 

“What did Brother Rabbit do then?” inquired the little boy. 

“Better ax w’at Brer Fox do,” replied Aunt Tempy, pleased 
with the effect of her rhymes. “Brer Fox look ’roun’ atter w’ile, 
un w’en he see dat all Brer Rabbit fammerly done gone, he lean 
back un holler ‘ Wo!’ un den he say, sezee: — 

“Tn de name er goodness. Brer Rabbit! whar all yo’ folks?’ 

“Brer Rabbit look ’roun’, un den he make like he cryin’. He 
des fa’rly boo-hoo’d, un he say, sezee: — 

207 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“‘Dar now, Brer Fox! I des know’d dat ef I put my po’ lit¬ 
tle childuns in dar wid yo’ folks dey’d git e’t up. I des know’d 
it!’ 

“Ole Miss Fox, she des vow she ain’t totch Brer Rabbit fam- 
merly. But Brer Fox, he bin wantin’ a piece un um all de way, un 
he begrudge um so dat he git mighty mad wid he ole ’oman un de 
childuns, un he say, sezee: — 

“‘You kin des make de most er dat, ’kaze I’m a-gwine ter bid 
you good riddance dis ve’y day’; un, sho’ nuff, Brer Fox tuck’n 
tuck he whole fammerly ter town un trade um off fer co’n. 

“ Brer Rabbit wuz wid ’em, des ez big ez life un twice ez natchul. 
Dey start back, dey did, un w’en dey git four er five mile out er 
town, hit come ’cross Brer Fox min’ dat he done come away un 
lef’ a plug er terbacker in de sto’, en he say he bleeze ter go back 
atter it. 

“Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat he’ll stay en take keer er de 
waggin, w’ile Brer Fox kin run back un git he terbacker. Soon 
ez Brer Fox git out er sight, Brer Rabbit laid de hosses under line 
un lash un drove de waggin home, un put de hosses in he own 
stable, un de co’n in de smoke-house, un de waggin in de barn, un 
den he put some co’n in he pocket, un cut de hosses tails off, un 
went back up de road twel he come ter a quog-mire, un in dat he 
stick de tails un wait fer Brer Fox. 

“Atter w’ile yer he come, un den Brer Rabbit gun ter holler un 
pull at de tails. He say, sezee: — 

“ ‘Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer! Youer des in time ef you ain’t 
too late. Run yer. Brer Fox! run yer!’ 

“Brer Fox, he run’d en juk Brer Rabbit away, un say, sezee: — 

“‘Git out de way, Brer Rabbit! You too little! Git out de way, 
un let a man ketch holt.’ 

“Brer Fox tuck holt,” continued Aunt Tempy, endeavoring to 
keep from laughing, “ un he fetch’d one big pull, un I let you know 
dat ’uz de onliest pull he make, ’kaze de tails come out un he tu’n 

208 


THE FIRE-TEST 

a back summerset. He jump up, he did, en ’gun ter grabble in de 
quog-mire des ez hard ez he kin. 

“Brer Rabbit, he stan’ by, un drop some co’n in onbeknowns’ 
ter Brer Fox, un dis make ’im grabble wuss un wuss, un he grabble 
so hard un he grabble so long dat’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he fall down 
dead, un so dat ’uz de las’ er ole Brer Fox in dat day un time.” 

As Aunt Tempy paused, Uncle Remus adjusted his spectacles 
and looked at her admiringly. Then he laughed heartily. 

“I declar’, Sis Tempy,” he said, after a while, “you gives 
tongue same ez a lawyer. You ’ll hatter jine in wid us some mo’.” 

Aunt Tempy closed her eyes and dropped her head on one side. 

“Don’t git me started, Brer Remus,” she said, after a pause; 
“ ’kaze ef you does you ’ll hatter set up yer long pas’ yo’ bedtime.” 

“I b’leeve you, Sis Tempy, dat I does!” exclaimed the old man, 
with the air of one who has made a pleasing discovery. 


XLII 

THE FIRE-TEST 

“We er sorter bin a-waitin’ fer Sis Tempy,” Uncle Remus re¬ 
marked when the little boy made his appearance the next night; 
“but somehow er n’er look lak she fear’d she hatter up en tell 
some mo’ tales. En yit maybe she bin strucken down wid some 
kinder ailment. Dey ain’t no countin’ on deze yer fat folks. Dey 
er up one minnit en down de nex’; en w’at make it dat a-way I be 
bless ef I know, ’kaze w’en folks is big en fat look lak dey oughter 
be weller dan deze yer long hongry kinder folks. 

“Yit all de same, Brer Jack done come,” continued Uncle 
Remus, “en we ull des slam de do’ shet, en ef Sis Tempy come 
she’ll des hatter hoi’ ’er han’s ’fo’ ’er face en holler out: — 

“'Lucky de Linktum, chucky de chin , 

Open de do' en let me ini* 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Oh, you kin laugh ef you wan ter, but I boun’ you ef Sis 
Tempy wuz ter come dar en say de wuds w’at I say, de button 
on dat ar do’ ’ud des nat’ally twis’ hitse’f off but w’at’t would 
let ’er in. Now, I boun’ you dat!” 

Whatever doubts the child may have had he kept to himself, 
for experience had taught him that it was useless to irritate the 
old man by disputing with him. What effect the child’s silence 
may have had in this instance it is impossible to say, for just then 
Aunt Tempy came in laughing. 

“You all kin des say w’at you please,” she exclaimed, as she 
took her seat, “but dat ar Shucky Cordy in de tale w’at Daddy 
Jack done tole, bin runnin’ ’roun’ in my min’ en zoonin ’in my 
years all de time.” 

“Yer too!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis. “Dat’s 
me up en down. Look lak dat ar cricket over dar in de cornder 
done tuck it up,en now he gwine, ‘ Shucky-cor dy! Shucky-cordy! 

“Shuh-shuh!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, with vehement con¬ 
tempt, “’ejutta cord-la! ’E no ‘shucky-cordy’ no’n’t all.” 

“Well, well, Brer Jack,” said Uncle Remus, soothingly, “in 
deze low groun’s er sorrer, you des got ter lean back en make 
’lowances fer all sorts er folks. You got ter ’low fer dem dat knows 
too much same ez dem w’at knows too little. A heap er sayin’s en 
a heap er doin’s in dis roun’ worl’ got ter be tuck on trus’. You 
got yo’ sayin’s, I got mine; you got yo’ knowin’s, en I got mine. 
Man come ’long en ax me how does de wum git in de scaly-bark . 1 
I tell ’im right up en down, I dunno, sir. N’er man come ’long en 
ax me who raise de row ’twix’ de buzzud en de bee-martin . 2 I tell 
’im I dunno, sir. Yit, ’kaze I dunno,” continued Uncle Remus, 
“dat don’t hender um. Dar dey is, spite er dat, — wum in de 
scaly-bark, bee-martin atter de buzzud.” 

1 A species of hickory-nut. The tree sheds its bark every year, hence the name, which 
is applied to both tree and fruit. 

2 The king-bird. 


210 


THE FIRE-TEST 


“Dat’s so,’’ exclaimed Aunt Tempy, “dat’s de Lord’s trufe!” 

“Dat ar pullin’ at de string,” Uncle Remus went on, “en dat ar 
hollerin’ ’bout shucky-cordy ” — 

“Jutta cord-la /” said Daddy Jack, fiercely. 

“’Bout de watsizname,” said Uncle Remus, with a lenient and 
forgiving smile, — “all dish yer hollerin’ en gwine on ’bout de 
watsizname put me in min’ er one time w’en Brer Rabbit wuz 
gwine off fum home fer ter git a mess er green truck. 

“W’en Brer Rabbit git ready fer ter go, he call all he chilluns 
up, en he tell um dat w’en he go out dey mus’ fas’n de do’ on de 
inside, en dey mus’n’ tu’n nobody in, nohow, ’kaze Brer Fox en 
Brer Wolf bin layin’ ’roun’ waitin’ chance fer ter nab um. En he 
tuck’n tole um dat w’en he come back, he’d rap at de do’ en sing: 

***Z’ZZ stay w’en you away , 

’Kaze no goV will pay toll !’ 

“De little Rabs, dey hilt up der han’s en promise dat dey won’t 
open de do’ fer nobody ’ceppin’ dey daddy, en wid dat, Brer Rab¬ 
bit he tuck’n put out, he did, at a han’-gallop, huntin’ sump’n’ 
n’er ter eat. But all dis time, Brer Wolf bin hidin’ out behime de 
house, en he year eve’y wud dat pass, en ole Brer Rabbit wa’n’t 
mo’n out’n sight ’fo’ Brer Wolf went ter de do’, en he knock, he 
did, — blip, blip , blip! 

“Little Rab holler out, ‘Who dat?’ 

“Brer Wolf he sing: — 

“*I'U stay w’en you away , 

’Kaze no gol’ will pay toll l’ 

“De little Rabs dey laugh fit ter kill deyse’f, en dey up’n 
’low: — 

“‘Go ’way, Mr. Wolf, go ’way! You ain’t none er we-all 
daddy!’ 

“Ole Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, but eve’y time he thunk 
er dem plump little Rabs, he des git mo’ hongry dan befo’, en’t 
wa’n’t long ’fo’ he ’uz back at de do’ — blap, blap, blap l 

£11 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Little Rab holler: ‘Who dat?’ 

“Brer Wolf, he up’n sing: — 

“'I'll stay w’en you away , 

*Kaze no goV will pay toll l 9 

“De little Rabs dey laugh en roll on de flo’, en dey up’n ’low: — 

“‘Go ’way, Mr. Wolf! We-all daddy ain’t got no bad col’ lak 
dat.’ 

“Brer Wolf slunk off, but bimeby he come back, en dis time he 
try mighty hard fer ter talk fine. He knock at de do’ — blam , 
blam , blam! 

“Little Rab holler: ‘Who dat?’ 

“Brer Wolf tu’n loose en sing: — 

“‘I'll stay w’en you away , 

’Kaze no gol’ will pay toll!’ 

“Little Rab holler back, he did: — 

“‘Go ’way, Mr. Wolf! go ’way! We-all daddy kin sing lots put¬ 
tier dan dat. Go ’way, Mr. Wolf! go ’way!’ 

“Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, en he go ’way out in de woods, 
en he sing, en sing, twel he kin sing fine ez de nex’ man. Den he 
go back en knock at de do’, en w’en de little Rabs ax who dat, he 
sing dem de song; en he sing so nice, en he sing so fine, dat dey 
ondo de do’, en ole BrerWolf walk in en gobble um all up, fum de 
fus’ ter de las’. 

“W’en ole Brer Rabbit git back home, he fine de do’ stannin’ 
wide open en all de chilluns gone. Dey wa’n’t no sign er no tussle; 
de h’a’th ’uz all swep’ clean, en eve’ything wuz all ter rights, but 
right over in de cornder he see a pile er bones, en den he know in 
reason dat some er de yuther creeturs done bin dar en make hash 
outen he chilluns. 

“Den he go ’roun’ en ax um ’bout it, but dey all ’ny it; dey all 
’ny it ter de las’, en Brer Wolf, he ’ny it wuss’n all un um. Den 
Brer Rabbit tuck’n lay de case ’fo’ Brer Tarrypin. Ole Brer Tarry- 
pin wuz a mighty man in dem days,” continued Uncle Remus, with 

212 



“ DE LITTLE RABS, DEY PROMISE DAT DEY WON’T OPEN DE DO’ FER NOBODY” 



















. 


1 . 



























* 






















































* 


















































THE FIRE-TEST 


something like a sigh, — “a mighty man, en no sooner is he year 
de state er de condition dan he up’n call all de creeturs tergedder. 
He call um tergedder, he did, en den he up’n tell um ’bout how 
somebody done tuck’n ’stroy all er Brer Rabbit chillun, en he 
’low dat de man w’at do dat bleedz ter be kotch, ’kazeef he ain’t, 
dey ain’t no tellin’ how long it’ll be ’fo’ de same somebody’ll come 
’long en ’stroy all de chillun in de settlement. 

“Brer B’ar, he up’n ax how dey gwine fine ’im, en Brer Tarry- 
pin say dey er allers a way. Den he ’low: — 

“‘Less dig a deep pit.’ 

“‘I’ll dig de pit,’ sez Brer Wolf, sezee. 

“Atter de pit done dug, Brer Tarrypin say: — 

“‘Less fill de pit full er lighter’d knots en bresh.’ 

“ ‘ I ’ll fill de pit,’ sez Brer Wolf, sezee. 

“Atter de pit done fill up, Brer Tarrypin say: — 

‘“Now, den, less set it a-fier.’ 

“‘I’ll kindle de fier,’ sez Brer Wolf, sezee. 

“W’en de fier ’gun ter blaze up, Brer Tarrypin ’low dat de 
creeturs mus’ jump ’cross dat, en de man w’at ’stroy Brer Rab¬ 
bit chilluns will drap in en git bu’nt up. Brer Wolf bin so uppity 
’bout diggin’, en fillin’, en kindlin’, dat dey all ’spected ’im fer ter 
make de fus’ trial; but, bless yo’ soul en body! Brer Wolf look lak 
he got some yuther business fer ter ’ten’ ter. 

“De pit look so deep, en de fier bu’n so high, dat dey mos’ all 
’fear’d fer ter make de trial, but atter w’ile, Brer Mink ’low dat he 
ain’t hunted none er Brer Rabbit chilluns, en wid dat, he tuck 
runnin’ start, en lipt across. Den Brer Coon say he ain t hunted 
um, en over he sailed. Brer B’ar say he feel mo’ heavy dan he 
ever is befo’ in all he born days, but he ain t hurted none er Brer 
Rabbit po’ little chilluns, en wid dat away he went ’cross de fier. 
Dey all jump, twel bimeby hit come Brer Wolf time. Den he 
’gun ter git skeered, en he mighty sorry ’kaze he dig dat pit so 
deep en wide, en kindle dat fier so high. He tuck sech a long run- 

213 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

nin’ start, dat time he git ter de jumpin’ place, he ’uz done wo’ tee- 
totally out, en he lipt up, he did, en fetch’d a squall en drapt right 
spang in de middle er de fier.” 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, after a while, “did Brother 
Terrapin jump over the fire?” 

“W’at Brer Tarrypin gwine jump fer?” responded Uncle 
Remus, “w’en eve’ybody know Tarrypins ain’t eat Rabbits.” 

“Well, you know you said everything was different then,” said 
the child. 

“Look yer, Brer Jack,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, “ef you got 
any tale on yo’ mine, des let ’er come. Dish yer youngster gittin’ 
too long-headed fer me; dat he is.” 1 


XLIII 

THE CUNNING SNAKE 

Daddy Jack, thus appealed to, turned half round in his seat, 
winked his bright little eyes very rapidly, and said, with great 
animation: — 

“Hoo! me bin yeddyone sing-tale; me yeddyum so long tam 
’go. One tam dere bin one ole Affiky ooman, ’e call ’im name 
Coomba. ’E go walky troo da woots, ’e walky troo da fiel’. Bum- 
bye ’e is bin come ’pon one snake-nes’ fill wit’ aig. Snake big 
snake, aig big aig. Affiky oomans is bin want-a dem aig so bahd; 
’e ’fraid fer tek um. ’E gone home; ’e is see dem aig in ’e dream, 
’e want um so bahd. Wun da nex’ day mornin’ come, da Affiky 
oomans say ’e bleeze fer hab dem aig. ’E go ’way, ’e bin-a see da 
snake-nes’, ’e is git-ada aig; ’e fetch um at ’e own house; ’e cook 
um fer ’e brekwuss. 

“Bumbye da snake bin-a come by’e nes’. Aig done gone. ’E 
pit ’e nose ’pon da groun’, ’e is track da Affiky oomans by ’e own 
1 See Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings , p. 79. 

214 . 


THE CUNNING SNAKE 

house. Snake come by da Affiky oomans house; ’e ahx ’bout ’e 
aig. Affiky oomans say ’e no hab bin see no aig. Snake see da 
skin wut bin ’pon ’e aig; ’e ahx wut is dis. Affiky oomans no say 
nuttin’ ’t all. Snake ’e say: — 

“‘Wey fer you come brek up me nes’ un tekky me aig?’ 

“Affiky oomans ’e no say nuttin’ ’t all. ’E toss ’e head, ’e mek 
lak ’e no yeddy da snake v’ice, ’e go ’bout ’e wuk. Snake, ’e say: — 

“‘Ooman! you is bin yed me v’ice wun me cry out. You bin 
tekky me aig; you is bin ’stroy me chillun. Tek keer you’ own; tek 
keer you’ own.’ 

“Snake gone ’way; ’e slick out ’e tongue, ’e slide ’way. Bumbye 
de Affiky oomans, ’e hab one putty lil pickaninny; ’e lub um ha’d 
all over. ’E is mine wut da snake say; ’e tote da pickaninny ’roun’ 
’pon ’e bahck. ’E call um Noncy, ’e tote um fur, ’e lub um ha’d. 

“Snake, ’e bin-a stay in da bush-side; ’e watch all day, ’e wait 
all night; ’e git honkry fer da pickaninny, ’e want um so bahd. 
’E bin slick out ’e tongue, ’e bin slide troo da grass, ’e bin hanker 
fer da pickaninny. 

“Bumbye da Affiky oomans tote-a da Noncy til ’e git tire; ’e 
puff, ’e blow, ’e wuk ’e gill sem lak cat-fish.” 

Aunt Tempy burst into loud laughter at this remarkable state¬ 
ment. 

“Whoever is year de beat er dat!” she exclaimed. “Daddy 
Jack, you goes on owdashus ’bout de wimmen, dat you does!” 

“’E puff, ’e blow, ’e pant; ’e say: — 

“‘Da pickaninny, ’e der git-a big lak one bag rice. ’E der git-a 
so heffy, me yent mos’ know wut fer do. Me yent kin tote um no 
mo’.’ 

“Da Affiky oomans is bin-a pit da pickaninny down ’pon da 
groun’. ’E mek up one sing 1 in ’e head, un ’e l’arn da lilly gal fer 
answer da sing. ’E do show um how fer pull out da peg in da do’. 
Snake, ’e is bin lay quile up in da bush; ’e say nuttin’ ’t all. 

1 “ ’E mek up one sing.” She composed a song and taught the child the refrain. 

215 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“ Affiky oomans is l’arn-a da pickaninny fer answer da sing, un 
wun he sta’t fer go off, ’e say: — 

“‘Pit da peg in da do’ un you no y-open um fer nobody ’cep* 
you is yeddy me sing.’ 

“Lil gal, ’e say yassum, un da Affiky oomans gone off. Snake 
stay still. ’E quile up in ’e quile; ’e yent moof 1 ’e tail. Bumbye, 
toze night-time, da Affiky oomans come bahck wey ’e lif. ’E 
stan’ by da do’; ’e talk dis sing: — 

“ * Walla waUa witto, me Noncy, 

Walla walla witto, me Noncy, 

Walla walla witto, me Noncy l* 

“’E v’ice ’come finer toze da las’ tel ’e do git loud fer true. Da 
lilly gal, ’e do mek answer lak dis: — 

“ * Andolee l Andoli l Andolo l * 

' “ ’E know ’e mammy v’ice, en ’e bin pull out da peg queek. ’E 
run to ’e mammy; ’e mammy der hung um up. Nex’ day, ’e da 
sem t’ing; two, t’ree, sev’m day, ’e da sem t’ing. Affiky oomans 
holler da sing; da lilly gal mek answer ’pon turrer side da do’. 
Snake, ’e lay quile up in da bush. ’E watch da night, ’e lissun da 
day; ’e try fer 1’arn-a da sing; ’e no say nuttin’ ’t all. Bumbye, 
one tarn wun Affiky oomans bin gone ’way, snake, ’e wait ’til ’e 
mos’ tarn fer oomans fer come bahck. ’E gone by da do’; ’e y-open 
’e mout’; ’e say: — 

“ *Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy, 

Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy, 

Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy l* 

“’E try fer mekky ’e v’ice come fine lak da lil gal mammy; ’e 
der hab one rough place in ’e t’roat, un ’e v’ice come big. Lilly gal 
no mek answer. ’E no y-open da do’. ’E say: — 

“‘Go ’way fum dey-dey! Me mammy no holler da sing lak 
dat!’ 


1 Move; he ain’t move he tail; he has n’t even moved his tail. 
216 


THE CUNNING SNAKE 

“Snake, ’e try one, two, t’ree tinae; ’e yent no use. Lilly gal no 
y-open da do’, ’e no mek answer. Snake ’e slick out ’e tongue un 
slide ’way; ’e say ’e mus’ l’arn-a da sing sho’ ’nuff. 

“Bumbye, da Affiky oomans come bahck. ’E holler da sing: — 

“‘Walla, walla witto y me Noncy, 

Walla walla witto , me Noncy , 

Walla walla witto, me Noncy l* 

“Lilly gal say: ‘Da’ me mammy!’ ’E answer da sing: — 

“‘Andolee I Andoli l Andolo l* 

“Snake, ’e quile up in da chimmerly-corner; ’e hoi’ ’e bre’t’ fer 
lissun; ’e der l’arn-a da sing. Nex’ day mornin’ da Affiky oomans 
bin-a gone ’way un lef’ da lilly gal all by ’ese’f. All de day long 
da snake ’e t’ink about da song; ’e say um in ’e min’, ’e say um 
forwud, ’e say um backwud. Bumbye, mos’ toze sundown, ’e 
come at da do’; ’e come, ’e holler da sing: — 

“ ‘ Walla walla witto , me Noncy , 

Walla walla witto , me Noncy , 

Walla walla witto y me Noncy I* 

“Da lil gal, 9 e t’ink-a da snake bin ’e mammy; ’e is answer da 
sing: — 

“‘Adolee l Andoli l Andolo l 9 

“’E mek answer lak dat, un ’e y-open da do 5 queek. ’E run 
’pon da snake ’fo’ ’e is shum. 1 Snake, ’e bin-a hug da lilly gal mo’ 
sem dun ’e mammy; ’e is twis’ ’e tail ’roun’ um; ’e is ketch um in 
’e quile. Lilly gal ’e holler, ’e squall; ’e squall, ’e holler. Nobody 
bin-a come by fer yeddy um. Snake ’e ’quees ’ 2 um tight, ’e no 
l’em go; ’e ’quees’ um tight, ’e swaller um whole; ’e bre’k-a no 
bone; ’e tekky da lilly gal lak ’e stan\ 

“ Bumbye da lil mammy come home at ’e house. ’E holler da 
sing, ’e git-a no answer. ’E come skeer’; ’e v’ice shek, ’e body 
trimple. ’E lissun, ’e no yeddy no fuss. ’E push de do’ y-open, ’e 
1 Before he see um. 2 Squeeze. 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


no see nuttin’ ’t all; da lilly gal gone! Da ooman ’e holler, ’e cry; 
’e ahx way ’e lilly gal bin gone; ’e no git no answer. ’E look all 
’roun’, ’e see way da snake bin-a ’cross da road. ’E holler: — 

“‘Ow, me Lard! da snake bin come swaller me lil Noncy gal. 
I gwan hunt ’im up; I gwan toiler da snake pas’ da een’ da yet’.’ 1 

“’E go in da swamp, ’e cut ’im one cane; ’e come bahck, ’e fine 
da snake track, un ’e do toiler ’long wey ’e lead. Snake ’e so full 
wit de lilly gal ’e no walk fas’; lil gal mammy, ’e bin mad, ’e go 
stret ’long. Snake ’e so full wit’ da lilly gal, ’e come sleepy. ’E 
lay down, ’e shed-a ’e y-eye. ’E y-open um no mo’,” continued 
Daddy Jack, moving his head slowly from side to side, and look¬ 
ing as solemn as he could. “Da ooman come ’pon de snake wun 
’e bin lay dar ’sleep; ’e come ’pon ’im, un ’e tekky da cane un 
bre’k ’e head, ’e mash um flat. ’E cut da snake open, ’e fine da 
lilly gal sem lak ’e bin ’sleep. ’E tek um home, ’e wash um off. 
Bumbye da lilly gal y-open ’e y-eye, un soon ’e see ’e mammy, ’e 
answer da sing. ’E say: — 

“‘ Andolee! Andoli! Andolo !*” 

“Well, well, well!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, sympathetically. 
“Un de po’ little creetur wuz ’live?” 

“Enty!” exclaimed Daddy Jack. No reply could possibly have 
been more prompt, more emphatic, or more convincing. 

XLIV 

HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, one night when he found 
the old man alone, “I don’t like these stories where somebody has 
to stand at the door and sing, do you? They don’t sound funny 
to me.” 

Uncle Remus crossed his legs, took off his spectacles and laid 
- l Earth. Uncle Remus would say “ Yeth.” 

218 


HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART 


them carefully on the floor under his chair, and made a great pre¬ 
tence of arguing the matter with the child. 

“Now, den, honey, w’ich tale is it w’at you ain’t lak de mos’?” 

The little boy reflected a moment and then replied: — 

“About the snake swallowing the little girl. I don’t see any 
fun in that. Papa says they have snakes in Africa as big around 
as his body; and, goodness knows, I hope they won’t get after 
me.” 

“How dey gwine git atter you, honey, w’en you settin’ up yer 
’long side er me en de snakes ’way ’cross dar in Afflky?” 

“Well, Daddy Jack, he came, and the snakes might come too.” 

Uncle Remus laughed, more to reassure the child than to ridi¬ 
cule his argument. 

“Dem ar snakes ain’t no water-moccasin, not ez I knows un. 
Brer Jack bin yer mighty long time, en dey ain’t no snake foller 
atter ’im yit.” 

“Now, Uncle Remus! papa says they have them in shows.” 

“I ’speck dey is, honey, but who’s afear’d er snake stufft wid 
meal-bran? Not none er ole Miss gran’chillun, sho’!” 

“Well, the stories don’t sound funny to me.” 

“Dat mought be, yit deyer funny ter Brer Jack, en dey do 
mighty well fer ter pass de time. Atter w’ile you’ll be a-gwine 
’roun’ runnin’ down ole Brer Rabbit en de t’er creeturs, en some¬ 
how er n’er you’ll take’n git ole Remus mix up wid um twel you 
won’t know w’ich one un um you er runnin’ down, en let ’lone dat, 
you won’t keer needer. Shoo, honey! you ain’t de fus chap w at 
I done tole deze yer tales ter.” 

“Why, Uncle Remus,” exclaimed the little boy, in a horrified 
tone, “I would n't; you know I would n’t!” 

“Don’t tell me!” insisted the old man, “you er outgrowin’ 
me, en you er outgrowin’ de tales. Des lak Miss Sally change de 
lenk er yo’ britches, des dat a-way I got ter do w’ence I whirl in 
en persoo atter de creeturs. Time wuz w’en you ’ud set down yer 

219 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

by dish yer h’a’th, en you’d take’n holler en laugh en clap yo* 
han’s w’en ole Brer Rabbit ’ud kick outen all er he tanglements; 
but deze times you sets dar wid yo’ eyes wide open, en you don’t 
crack a smile. I say it!” Uncle Remus exclaimed, changing his 
tone and attitude, as if addressing some third person concealed in 
the room. “ I say it! Stidder j ’inin’ in wid de fun, he ’ll take’n lean 
back dar en ’spute ’long wid you des lak grow’d up folks. I ’ll stick 
it out dis season, but w’en Chrismus come, I be bless ef I ain’t 
gwine ter ax Miss Sally fer my remoovance papers, en I’m gwine 
ter hang my bundle on my walkin’-cane, en see w’at kinder dirt 
dey is at de fur een’ er de big road.” 

“Yes!” exclaimed the little boy, triumphantly, “and, if you 
do, the patter-rollers will get you.” 

“Well,” replied the old man, with a curious air of resignation, 
“ef dey does, I ain’t gwine ter do lak Brer Fox did w’en Brer Rab¬ 
bit showed him de tracks in de big road.” 

“How did Brother Fox do, Uncle Remus?” 

“Watch out, now! Dish yer one er de tales w’at ain’t got no fun 
in it.” 

“Uncle Remus, please tell it.” 

“Hoi’ on dar! Dey mought be a snake some’rs in it — one er 
deze yer meal-bran snakes.” 

“ Please , Uncle Remus, tell it.” 

The old man never allowed himself to resist the artful pleadings 
of the little boy. So he recovered his specks from under the chair, 
looked up the chimney for luck, as he explained to his little part¬ 
ner, and proceeded: — 

“One day w’en Brer Fox went callin’ on Miss Meadows en Miss 
Motts en de t’er gals, who should he fine settin’ up dar but ole 
Brer Rabbit? Yasser! Dar he wuz, des ez sociable ez you please. 
He ’uz gwine on wid de gals, en w’en Brer Fox drapt in dey look 
lak dey wuz mighty tickled ’bout sump’n’ n’er Brer Rabbit bin 
sayin . Brer Fox, he look sorter jub’ous, he did, des lak folks does 

220 


HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART 

w’en dey walks up in a crowd whar de yuthers all a-gigglin\ He 
tuck’n kotch de dry grins terreckerly. But dey all howdied, en 
Miss Meadows, she up’n say: — 

“‘You’ll des hatter skuse us, Brer Fox, on de ’count er dish yer 
gigglement. Tooby sho’, hit monst’us disperlite fer we-all fer to 
be gwine on dat a-way; but I mighty glad you come, en I sez ter 
de gals, sT, “’Fo’ de Lord, gals! dar come Brer Fox, en yer we is 
a-gigglin’ en a-gwine on scan’lous; yit hit done come ter mighty 
funny pass,” s’l, “ef you can’t run on en laugh ’fo’ home folks,” 
s ’I. Dat des ’zactly w’at I say, en I leave it ter ole Brer Rabbit en 
de gals yer ef’t ain’t.’ 

“De gals, dey tuck’n jine in, dey did, en dey make ole Brer Fox 
feel right splimmy-splammy, en dey all sot dar en run on ’bout 
dey neighbors des lak folks does deze days. Dey sot dar, dey did, 
twel atter w’ile Brer Rabbit look out todes sundown, en ’low: — 
“‘Now, den, folks and fr’en’s, I bleedz ter say goo’ bye. Cloud 
cornin’ up out yan, en mos’ ’fo’ we know it de rain ’ll be a-po’in’ 
en de grass ’ll be a-growin’.’ ” 

“Why, that’s poetry, Uncle Remus!” interrupted the little 
boy. 

“Tooby sho’ ’t is, honey! tooby sho’ ’t is. I des let you know 
Brer Rabbit ’uz a mighty man in dem days. Brer Fox, he see de 
cloud cornin’ up, en he up’n ’low he ’speck he better be gittin’ 
’long hisse’f, ’kaze he ain’t wanter git he Sunday-go-ter-meetin’ 
cloze wet. Miss Meadows en Miss Motts, en de gals, dey want 
um ter stay, but bofe er dem ar creeturs ’uz mighty fear’d er 
gittin’ der foots wet, en atter w’ile dey put out. 

“ W’iles dey ’uz gwine down de big road, jawin’ at one er ’n’er. 
Brer Fox, he tuck’n stop right quick, en ’low: — 

“‘Run yer. Brer Rabbit! run yer! Ef my eye ain’t ’ceive me yer 
de signs whar Mr. Dog bin ’long, en mo’n dat dey er right fresh.’ 
“Brer Rabbit, he sidle up en look. Den he ’low: — 

“‘Dat ar track ain’t never fit Mr. Dog foot in de roun’ worl’. 

ni 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


W’at make it mo’ bindiny sezee, ‘I done gone en bin ’quainted 
wid de man w’at make dat track, too long ’go ter talk ’bout,’ sezee. 

“‘Brer Rabbit, please, sir, tell me he name.’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he laugh lak he makin’ light er sump’n’ ’n’er. 

“‘Ef I ain’t make no mistakes, Brer Fox, de po’ creetur w’at 
make dat track is Cousin Wildcat; no mo’ en no less.’ 

“‘How big is he, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘He des ’bout yo’ heft, Brer Fox.’ Den Brer Rabbit make lak 
he talkin’ wid hisse’f. ‘Tut, tut, tut! Hit mighty funny dat I 
should run up on Cousin Wildcat in dis part er de worl’. Tooby 
sho’, tooby sho’! Many en manys de time I see my ole Grandaddy 
kick en cuff Cousin Wildcat, twel I git sorry ’bout ’im. Ef you 
want any fun, Brer Fox, right now de time ter git it.’ 

“Brer Fox up’n ax, he did, how he gwine have any fun. Brer 
Rabbit, he ’low: — 

“‘Easy ’nuff; des go en tackle ole Cousin Wildcat, en lam ’im 
’roun’.’ 

“Brer Fox, he sorter scratch he year, en ’low: — 

“‘Eh-eh, Brer Rabbit, I fear’d. He track too much lak Mr. 
Dog.’ 

“Brer Rabbit des set right flat down in de road, en holler en 
laugh. He ’low, sezee: — 

“‘Shoo, Brer Fox! Who’d ’a’ thunk you ’uz so skeery? Des 
come look at dish yer track right close. Is dey any sign er claw 
anywhar’s?’ 

“Brer Fox bleedz ter ’gree dat dey wa’n’t no sign er no claw. 
Brer Rabbit say: — 

“ ‘ Well, den, ef he ain’t got no claw, how he gwine ter hu’t you, 
Brer Fox?’ 

“‘W’at gone wid he toofs, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘Shoo, Brer Fox! Creeturs w’at barks 1 de trees ain’t gwine 
bite.’ 


1 Gnaws the bark from the trees. 
222 


HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART 

“Brer Fox tuck’n tuck ’n’er good look at de tracks, en den him 
en Brer Rabbit put out fer ter toiler um up. Dey went up de road, 
en down de lane, en ’cross de turnip patch, en down a dreen , 1 en 
up a big gully. Brer Rabbit, he done de trackin’, en eve’y time 
he fine one, he up’n holler: — 

“‘Yer ’n’er track, en no claw dar! Yer ’n’er track, en no claw 
dar!’ 

“ Dey kep’ on en kep’ on, twel bimeby dey run up wid de creetur. 
Brer Rabbit, he holler out mighty biggity: — 
t “ ‘ Heyo dar! W’at you doin’ ? ’ 

; “De creetur look ’roun’, but he ain’t sayin’ nothin’. Brer Rab¬ 
bit ’low: — 

“‘Oh, you nee’nter look so sullen! We ull make you talk ’fo’ 
we er done ’long wid you! Come, now! W’at you doin’ out 
dar?’ 

“De creetur rub hisse’f ’gin’ a tree des lak you see deze yer 
house cats rub ’gin’ a cheer, but he ain’t sayin’ nothin’. Brer 
Rabbit holler: — 

“‘W’at you come pesterin’ ’long wid us fer, w’en we ain’t bin 
a-pesterin’ you? You got de consate dat I dunner who you is, but 
I does. Youer de same ole Cousin Wildcat w’at my gran’daddy 
use ter kick en cuff w’en you ’fuse ter ’spon’. I let you know I got 
a better man yer dan w’at my gran’daddy ever is bin, en I boun’ 
you he ull make you talk. Dat w’at I boun’ you.’ 

“De creetur lean mo’ harder ’gin’ de tree, en sorter ruffle up he 
bristle, but he ain’t sayin’ nothin’. Brer Rabbit, he ’low: — 

1 “‘Go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he ’fuse ter ’spon’ slap ’im down! 
Dat de way my gran’daddy done. You go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef 
he dast ter try ter run, I ’ll des whirl in en ketch ’im.’ 

“Brer Fox, he sorter jub’ous, but he start todes de creetur. 
Ole Cousin Wildcat walk all ’roun’ de tree, rubbin’ hisse’f, but he 
ain’t sayin’ nothin’. Brer Rabbit, he holler: — 

1 Drain or ditch. 

223 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“ ‘Des walk right up en slap ’im down, Brer Fox — de owdashus 
vilyun! Des hit ’im a surbinder, en ef he dast ter run, I boun’ 
you I’ll ketch ’im.* 

“Brer Fox, he went up little nigher. Cousin Wildcat stop rub- 
bin’ on de tree, en sot up on he behime legs wid he front paws in 
de a’r, en he balance hisse’f by leanin’ ’gin’ de tree, but he ain’t 
sayin’ nothin’. Brer Rabbit, he squall out, he did: — 

“‘Oh, you nee’nter put up yo’ han’s en try ter beg off. Dat de 
way you fool my ole gran’daddy; but you can’t fool we-all. All 
yo’ settin’ up en beggin’ ain’t gwine ter he’p you. Ef youer so 
humble ez all dat, w’at make you come pesterin’ longer we-all? 
Hit ’im a clip, Brer Fox! Ef he run, I’ll ketch ’im!’ 

“Brer Fox see de creetur look so mighty humble, settin’ up dar 
lak he beggin’ off, en he sorter take heart. He sidle up todes ’im, 
he did, en des ez he ’uz makin’ ready fer ter slap ’im ole Cousin 
Wildcat draw’d back en fotch Brer Fox a wipe ’cross de stomach.” 

Uncle Remus paused here a moment, as if to discover some term 
strong enough to do complete justice to the catastrophe. Presently 
he went on: — 

“Dat ar Cousin Wildcat creetur fotch Brer Fox a wipe ’cross 
de stomach, en you mought a yeard ’im squall fum yer ter Har¬ 
mony Grove. Little mo’ en de creetur would er to’ Brer Fox in 
two. W’ence de creetur made a pass at ’im, Brer Rabbit knew 
w’at gwine ter happen, yit all de same he tuck’n holler: — 

“‘Hit ’im ag’in, Brer Fox! Hit ’im ag’in! I’m a-backin’ you. 
Brer Fox! Ef he dast ter run, I ’ll inabout cripple ’im — dat I will. 
Hit ’im ag’in!’ 

“All dis time w’iles Brer Rabbit gwine on dis a-way, Brer Fox, 
he ’uz a-squattin’ down, hol’in’ he stomach wid bofe han’s en des 
a-moanin’: — 

“‘I’m mint, Brer Rabbit! I’m mint! Run fetch de doctor! 
I’m teetotally mint!’ 

“’Bout dat time. Cousin Wildcat, he tuck’n tuck a walk. Brer 


BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE 


Rabbit, he make lak he ’stonish’ dat Brer Fox is hurted. He 
tuck’ii ’zamin’ de place, he did, en he up’n ’low: — 

“‘Hit look lak ter me, Brer Fox, dat dat owdashus vilyun 
tuck’n struck you wid a reapin’-hook.’ 

“Wid dat Brer Rabbit lit out fer home, en w’en he git out er 
sight, he tuck’n shuck he han’s des lak cat does w’en she git water 
on ’er foots, en he tuck’n laugh en laugh twel it make ’im sick fer 
ter laugh.” 


XLV 

BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE 

The little boy thought that the story of how the wildcat scratched 
Brother Fox was one of the best stories he had ever heard, and he 
did n’t hesitate to say so. His hearty endorsement increased Uncle 
Remus’s good-humor; and the old man, with a broad grin upon 
his features and something of enthusiasm in his tone, continued to 
narrate the adventures of Brother Rabbit. 

“After Brer Fox git hurted so bad,” said Uncle Remus, putting 
an edge upon his axe with a whetstone held in his hand, “hit wuz 
a mighty long time ’fo’ he could ramble ’roun’ en worry ole Brer 
Rabbit. Der time Cousin Wildcat fetch’d ’im dat wipe ’cross de 
stomach, he tuck’n lay de blame on Brer Rabbit, en w’en he git 
well, he des tuck’n juggle wid de yuther creeturs, en dey all ’gree 
dat dem en Brer Rabbit can’t drink out er de same branch, ner 
walk de same road, ner live in de same settlement, ner go in washin’ 
in de same wash-hole. 

“Tooby sho’ Brer Rabbit bleedz ter take notice er all dish yer 
kinder jugglements en gwines on, en he des tuck n strenken he 
house, in de neighborhoods er de winders, en den he put ’im up 
a steeple on top er dat. Yasser! A sho’ ’nuff steeple, en he rise ’er 
up so high dat folks gwine ’long de big road stop en say. Hey! 
W’at kinder meetin’-house dat?’” 

225 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

The little boy laughed loudly at Uncle Remus’s graphic de¬ 
lineation of the astonishment and admiration of the passers-by. 
The old man raised his head, stretched his eyes, and seemed to be 
looking over his spectacles right at Brother Rabbit’s steeple. 

“Folks ’ud stop en ax, but Brer Rabbit ain’t got time fer 
ter make no answer. He hammer’d, he nailed, he knock’d, he 
lamm’d! Folks go by, he ain’t look up; creeturs come stan’ en 
watch ’im, he ain’t look ’roun’; wuk, wuk, wuk, from sun-up ter 
sun-down, twel dat er steeple git done. Den ole Brer Rabbit 
tuck’n draw long breff, en wipe he forrerd, en ’low dat ef dem t’er 
creeturs w’at bin atter ’im so long is got any de ’vantage er him, 
de time done come fer um fer ter show it. 

“ Wid dat he went en got ’im a snack er sump’n’t’ eat, en a long 
piece er plough-line, en he tole he ole ’oman fer ter put a kittle er 
water on de fire, en stan’ ’roun’ close by, en eve’yt’ing he tell ’er 
not ter do, dat de ve’y t’ing she sho’ly mus’ do. Den ole Brer Rab¬ 
bit sot down in he rockin’-cheer en lookt out fum de steeple fer 
ter see how de lan’ lay. 

“’T wa’n’t long ’fo’ all de creeturs year talk dat Brer Rabbit 
done stop wuk, en dey ’gun ter come ’roun’ fer ter see w’at he 
gwine do nex’. But Brer Rabbit, he got up dar, he did, en smoke 
he seegyar, en chaw he ’backer, en let he min’ run on. Brer Wolf, 
he stan’ en look up at de steeple, Brer Fox, he stan’ en look up at 
it, en all de t’er creeturs dey done de same. Nex’ time you see a 
crowd er folks lookin’ at sump’n’ right hard, you des watch um, 
honey. Dey ’ll walk ’roun’ one er ’n’er en swap places, en dey ’ll be 
constant on de move. Dat des de way de creeturs done. Dey walk 
’roun’ en punch one er ’n’er en swap places, en look en look. Ole 
Brer Rabbit, he sot up dar, he did, en chaw he ’backer, en smoke 
he seegyar, en let he min’ run on. 

“Bimeby ole Brer Tarrypin come ’long, en ole Brer Tarrypin 
bin in cohoots wid Brer Rabbit so long dat he des nat’ally know 
dey wuz gwine ter be fun er plenty ’roun’ in dem neighborhoods 

226 


BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE 

'to 9 de sun go down. He laugh ’way down und’ de roof er he house, 
ole Brer Tarrypin did, en den he hail Brer Rabbit: — 

“‘Heyo, Brer Rabbit! W’at you doin’ ’way up in de elements 
lak dat?’ 

“‘I’m a-sojourneyin’ up yer fer ter res’ myse’f, Brer Tarrypin. 
Drap up en see me.’ 

‘“’Twix’ you en me, Brer Rabbit, de drappin’ ’s all one way. 
S’posin’ you tu’n loose en come. Man live dat high up bleedz ter 
have wings. I ain’t no high-flyer myse’f. I fear’d ter shake han’s 
wid you so fur off. Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘Not so. Brer Tarrypin, not so. My sta’rcase is a mighty 
limbersome one, en I’ll des let it down ter you.’ 

“Wid dat. Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line. 

“ ‘Des ketch holt er dat, Brer Tarrypin,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 
‘en up you comes, linktum sinktum binktum boo ! 9 sezee.” f 

“What was that. Uncle Remus?” said the little boy, taking a 
serious view of the statement. 

“ Creetur talk, honey — des creetur talk. Bless yo’ soul, chile! ” 
the old man went on, with a laughable assumption of dignity, “ef 
you think I got time fer ter stop right short off en stribbit 1 out 
all I knows, you er mighty much mistaken — mighty much mis¬ 
taken. 

“Ole Brer Tarrypin know mighty well dat Brer Rabbit ain’t 
got nothin’ ’gin’ ’im, yet he got sech a habit er lookin’ out fer 
hisse’f dat he tuck’n ketch de plough-line in he mouf, he did, en 
try de strenk un it. Ole Brer Rabbit, he holler ‘Swing on, Brer 
Tarrypin!’ en Brer Tarrypin, he tuck’n swung on, en’t wa’n’t 
long ’fo’ he ’uz settin’ up dar side er Brer Rabbit. 

“But I wish ter goodness you’d ’a’ bin dar,” continued Uncle 
Remus, very gracefully leaving it to be inferred that he was there; 
“I wish ter goodness you’d ’a’ bin dar so you could er seed ole 
Brer Tarrypin w’iles Brer Rabbit ’uz haulin’ ’im up, wid he tail 
1 Distribute. 

227 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


a-wigglin’ en he legs all spraddled out, en him a-whirlin’ ’roan’ 
en ’roun’ en lookin’ skeer’d. 

“De t’er creeturs dey see Brer Tarrypin go up safe en soun’, 
en dey see de vittles passin’ ’roun’, en dey ’gun ter feel lak dey 
wanter see de inside er Brer Rabbit steeple. Den Brer Wolf, he 
hail ’im: — 

“ ‘ Heyo dar, Brer Rabbit! Youer lookin’ mighty scrumptious 
way up dar! How you come on?’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he look down, he did, en he see who’t is hol¬ 
lerin’, en he ’spon’: — 

“‘Po’ly, mighty po’ly, but I thank de Lord I’m able to eat my 
’lowance . 1 Won’t you drap up, Brer Wolf?’ 

“‘Hit’s a mighty clumsy journey fer ter make, Brer Rabbit, 
yit I don’t keer ef I does.’ 

“Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line, en Brer Wolf 
kotch holt, en dey ’gun ter haul ’im up. Dey haul en dey haul, en 
w’en Brer Wolf git mos’ ter de top he year Brer Rabbit holler 
out: — 

“‘Stir ’roun’, ole ’oman, en set de table; but ’fo’ you do dat, 
fetch de kittle fer ter make de coffee.’ 

“Dey haul en dey haul on de plough-line, en Brer Wolf year 
Brer Rabbit squall out: — 

“‘Watch out dar, ole ’oman! You’ll spill dat b’ilin’ water on 
Brer Wolf!’ 

“En, bless yo’ soul!” continued Uncle Remus, turning half 
around in his chair to face his enthusiastic audience of one, “dat 
’uz ’bout all Brer Wolf did year, ’kaze de nex’ minit down come 
de scaldin’ water, en Brer Wolf des fetch one squall en turn’t hisse’f 
aloose, en w’en he strak de groun’ he bounce des same ez one er 
deze yer injun-rubber balls w’at you use ter play wid ’long in dem 
times ’fo’ you tuck’n broke yo’ mammy lookin’-glass. Ole Brer 
Rabbit, he lean fum out de steeple en ’pollygize de bes’ he kin, 

1 Allowance; ration. 

228 


BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE 

but no ’pollygy ain’t gwine ter make ha’r come back whar de 
b’ilin’ water hit.” 

“Did they spill the hot water on purpose, UncleRemus?”the 
little boy inquired. 

“Now, den, honey, youer crowdin’ me. Dem ar creeturs wuz 
mighty kuse — mo’ speshually Brer Rabbit. W’en it come down 
ter dat,” said Uncle Remus, lowering his voice and looking very 
grave, “I ’speck ef youder s’arch de country fum hen-roost to 
river-bank , 1 you won’t fine a no mo’ kuser man dan Brer Rabbit. 
All I knows is dat Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin had a mighty 
laughin’ spell des ’bout de time Brer Wolf hit de groun’.” 


XL VI 

BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE 

“En still we er by ourse’fs,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, as the little 
boy ran into his cabin, the night after he had heard the story of 
how Brother Rabbit scalded Brother Wolf. “We er by ourse’fs 
en time’s a-passin’. Dem ar folks dunner w’at dey er missin’. We er 
des gittin’ ter dat p’int whar we kin keep de run er creeturs, en it 
keeps us dat busy we ain’t got time fer ter bolt our vittles skacely. 

“I done tell you ’bout Brer Rabbit makin’ ’im a steeple; but I 
ain’t tell you ’bout how Brer Rabbit got ole Brer Wolf out’n er 
mighty bad fix.” 

“No,” said the little boy, “you have n’t, and that’s just what 
I have come for now.” * 

Uncle Remus looked at the rafters, then at the little boy, and 
finally broke into a loud laugh. 

“I ’clar’ ter goodness,” he exclaimed, addressing the imaginary 

1 Based on a characteristic negro saying. For instance: “Where’s Jim?” “You 
can’t keep up wid dat nigger. Des let night come, en he’s runnin’ fum hen-roost to river- 
bank.” In other words, stealing chickens and robbing fish baskets. 

229 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


third person to whom he related the most of his grievances, “I 
’clar’ ter goodness ef dat ar chile ain't gittin’ so dat he’s eve’y 
whit ez up-en-spoken ez w’at ole Miss ever bin. Dat he is!” 

The old man paused long enough to give the little boy some un¬ 
easiness, and then continued: — 

“Atter ole Brer Wolf git de nat’al hide tuck off’n ’im on de 
’count er Brer Rabbit kittle, co’se he hatter go ’way off by hisse’f 
fer ter let de ha’r grow out. He ’uz gone so long dat Brer Rabbit 
sorter ’low ter hisse’f dat he ’speck he kin come down out’n he 
steeple, en sorter rack ’roun’ mungs de t’er creeturs. 

‘‘He sorter primp up. Brer Rabbit did, en den he start out 
’pun he journeys hether en yan. 1 He tuck’n went ter de cross¬ 
roads, en dar he stop en choose ’im a road. He choose ’im a road, 
he did, en den he put out des lak he bin sent fer in a hurry. 

“Brer Rabbit gallop on, he did, talkin’ en laughin’ wid hisse’f, 
en eve’y time he pass folks, he’d tu’n it off en make lak he singin’. 
He ’uz gwine on dis a-way, w’en fus’ news you know he tuck’n 
year sump’n’. He stop talkin’ en ’gun ter hum a chune, but he 
ain’t meet nobody. Den he stop en lissen en he year sump’n’ 
holler: — 

‘“0 Lordy! Lordy! Won’t somebody come he’p me?’” 

The accent of grief and despair and suffering that Uncle Remus 
managed to throw into this supplication was really harrowing. 

“Brer Rabbit year dis, en he stop en lissen. ’T wa’n’t long ’fo’ 
sump’n’ n’er holler out: — 

“‘0 Lordy, Lordy! Please, somebody, come en he’p me.’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he h’ist up he years, he did, en make answer 
back:— 

“ ‘ Who is you, nohow, en w’at de name er goodness de marter? ’ 

“‘Please, somebody, do run yer!’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n stan’ on th’ee legs fer ter make sho’ er 
gittin’ a good start ef dey ’uz any needs un it, en he holler back: — 

1 Hither and yon. 

230 


BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE 

“‘Whar ’bouts is you, en how come you dar?’ 

“‘Do please, somebody, run yer en he’p a po’ mizerbulcreetur. 
I’m down yer in de big gully und’ dish yer great big rock.’ 

“Ole Brer Rabbit bleedz ter be mighty ’tickler in dem days, 
en he crope down ter de big gully en look in, en who de name er 
goodness you ’speck he seed down dar?” 

Uncle Remus paused and gave the little boy a look of triumph, 
and then proceeded without waiting for a reply: — 

“Nobody in de roun’ worl’ but dat ar ole Brer Wolf w’at Brer 
Rabbit done bin scalted de week ’fo’ dat. He ’uz layin’ down dar 
in de big gully, en, bless gracious! ’pun top un ’im wuz a great big 
rock, en ef you want ter know de reason dat ar great big rock ain’t 
teetotally kilt Brer Wolf, den you’ll hatter ax some un w’at know 
mo’ ’bout it dan w’at I does, ’kaze hit look lak ter me dat it des 
oughter mash ’im flat. 

“Yit dar he wuz, en let ’lone bein’ kilt, he got strenk ’nuff lef’ 
fer ter make folks year ’im holler a mile off, en he holler so lone¬ 
some dat it make Brer Rabbit feel mighty sorry, en no sooner is 
he feel sorry dan he hoi’ he coat-tails out de way en slid down de 
bank fer ter see w’at he kin do. 

“ W’en he git down dar Brer Wolf ax ’im please, sir, kin he he’p 
’im wid de removance er dat ar rock, en Brer Rabbit ’low he 
’speck he kin; en wid dat Brer Wolf holler en tell ’im fer mussy 
sake won’t he whirl in en do it, w’ich Brer Rabbit tuck ’n ketch 
holt er de rock en hump hisse’f, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he git a pur- 
chis on it, en, bless yo’ soul, he lif’ ’er up des lak nigger at de log¬ 
rollin’. 

“Hit tu’n out dat Brer Wolf ain’t hurted much, en w’en he fine 
dis out, he tuck’n tuck a notion dat ef he ev’ gwine git he re¬ 
vengeance out’n Brer Rabbit, right den wuz de time, en no sooner 
does dat come ’cross he min’ dan he tuck’n grab Brer Rabbit by de 
nap er de neck en de small er de back. 

“Brer Rabbit he kick en squeal, but’t ain’t do no manner er 
231 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

good, ’kaze de mo’ w’at he kick de mo’ tighter Brer Wolf clamp 
’im, w’ich he squoze ’im so hard dat Brer Rabbit wuz fear’d he 
’uz gwine ter cut off he breff. Brer Rabbit, he ’low: — 

“‘Well, den, Brer W'olf! Is dish yer de way you thanks folks fer 
savin’ yo’ life?’ 

“Brer Wolf grin big, en den he up’n ’low: — 

“‘I’ll thank you, Brer Rabbit, en den I’ll make fresh meat 
out’n you.’ 

“Brer Rabbit ’low, he did: — 

“‘Ef you talk dat a-way, Brer Wolf, I never is to do yer ’n’er 
good turn w’iles I live.’ 

“Brer Wolf, he grin some mo’ en ’low: — 

“ ‘Dat you won’t, Brer Rabbit, dat you won’t! You won’t do me 
no mo’ good turn tel you er done dead.’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he sorter study ter hisse’f, he did, en den he ’low: 

“‘Whar I come fum, Brer Wolf, hit’s agin’ de law fer folks fer 
to kill dem w’at done done um a good turn, en I ’speck hit’s de 
law right ’roun’ yer.’ 

“Brer Wolf say he ain’t so mighty sho’ ’bout dat. Brer Rabbit 
say he willin’ fer ter lef’ de whole case wid Brer Tarrypin, en Brer 
Wolf say he ’gree’ble. 

“Wid dat, dey put out, dey did, en make der way ter whar ole 
Brer Tarrypin stay; en w’en dey git dar, Brer Wolf he tuck’n tell 
he side, en den Brer Rabbit he tuck ’n tell he side. Ole Brer Tarry¬ 
pin put on he specks en cle’r up he th’oat, en den he ’low: — 

“‘Dey’s a mighty heap er mixness in dish yer ’spute, en ’fo’ 
I kin take any sides you ’ll des hatter kyar me fer ter see de place 
whar’bouts Brer Wolf wuz w’en Brer Rabbit foun’ ’im,’ sezee. 

“Sho’ ’nuff, dey tuck’n kyar’d ole Brer Tarrypin down de big 
road twel dey come ter de big gully, en den dey tuck ’im ter whar 
Brer Wolf got kotch und’ de big rock. Ole Brer Tarrypin, he walk 
’roun’, he did, en poke at de place wid de een’ er he cane. Bimeby 
he shuck he head, he did, en ’low: — 

232 



‘ EN, BLESS GRACIOUS ! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF FUM DAR EN LEF’ OLE BRER WOLF UND’ DAT All ROCK ’ 
























BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE 

“‘I hates might’ly fer ter put you all gents ter so much trouble; 
yit, dey ain’t no two ways, I ’ll hatter see des how Brer Wolf was 
kotch, en des how de rock wuz layin’ ’pun top un ’im,’ sezee. ‘De 
older folks gits, de mo’ trouble dey is,’ sezee, ‘en I ain’t ’nyin’ but 
w’at I’m a-ripenin’ mo’ samer dan a ’simmon w’at’s bin strucken 
wid de fros’,’ sezee. 

“Den Brer Wolf, he tuck’n lay down whar he wuz w’en Brer 
Rabbit foun’ ’im, en de yuthers dey up’n roll de rock ’pun top un 
’im. Dey roll de rock ’pun ’im,” continued Uncle Remus, looking 
over his spectacles to see what effect the statement had on the 
little boy, “en dar he wuz. Brer Tarrypin, he walk all ’roun’ en 
’roun’, en look at ’im. Den he sot down, he did, en make 
marks in de san’ wid he cane lak he studyin’ ’bout sump’n’ n’er. 
Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he open up: — 

“‘Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock gittin’ mighty heavy!’ 

“Brer Tarrypin, he mark in de san’, en study, en study. Brer 
Wolf holler: — 

“ ‘ Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock mashin’ de breff out ’n me.’ 

“Brer Tarrypin, he r’ar back, he did, en he ’low, sezee: — 

“ ‘ Brer Rabbit, you wuz in de wrong. You ain’t had no business 
fer ter come bodderin’ ’longer Brer Wolf w’en he ain’t bodderin’ 
’longer you. He ’uz ’ten’in’ ter he own business en you oughter 
bin ’ten’in’ ter yone.’ 

“Dis make Brer Rabbit look ’shame’ er hisse’f, but Brer Tarry¬ 
pin talk right erlong: — 

“‘W’en you ’uz gwine down dish yer road dis mawnin’, you 
sho’ly mus’ bin a-gwine som’ers. Ef you wuz gwine som’ers you 
better be gwine on. Brer Wolf, he wa’n’t gwine nowhars den, en 
he ain’t gwine nowhars now. You foun’ ’im und’ dat ar rock, en 
und’ dat ar rock you lef’ ’im.’ 

“ En, bless gracious! ” exclaimed Uncle Remus, “ dem ar creeturs 
racked off fum dar en lef’ ole Brer Wolf und’ dat ar rock.” 


233 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


XL VII 

BRER RABBIT LAYS IN HIS BEEF SUPPLY 

“I wonder where Daddy Jack is,” said the little boy, one night 
after he had been *waiting for some time for Uncle Remus to get 
leisure to tell him a story. 

Uncle Remus, who was delightfully human in his hypocrisy, 
as well as in other directions, leaned back in his chair, looked at the 
little boy with an air of grieved resignation, and said: — 

“I boun’ you does, honey, I boun’ you does. Ole Brer Jack 
look mighty weazly ter de naked eye, but I lay he’s a lots mo’ 
likelier nigger dan w’at ole Remus is. De time done gone by w’en 
a po’ ole no-’count nigger lak me kin hoi’ he han’ wid a bran new 
nigger man lak Brer Jack.” 

The child stared at Uncle Remus with open-eyed astonishment. 

“Now, Uncle Remus! I did n’t mean that; you know I did n’t,” 
he exclaimed. 

“Bless yo’ heart, honey! hit don’t pester me. I done got de 
speunce un it. Dat I is. Plough-hoss don’t squeal en kick w’en 
dey puts ’n’er hoss in he place. Brer Jack got de age on ’im but he 
new ter you. Ole er young, folks is folks, en no longer ’n day 
’fo’ yistiddy, I year you braggin’ ’bout how de vittles w’at dey 
feeds you on up at de big house ain’t good ez de vittles w’at yuther 
childun gits. Nummine ole Remus, honey; you en Brer Jack des 
go right erlong en I ’ll be much ’blige ef you ’ll des lemme set in de 
cornder yer en chunk de fier. Sho’ly I ain’t pas’ doin’ dat.” 

The child was troubled to think that Uncle Remus should find 
it necessary to depreciate himself, and he made haste to explain 
his position. 

“I thought that if Daddy Jack was here he could tell me a story 
while you are working, so you would n’t be bothered.” 

A broad grin of appreciation spread over Uncle Remus’s face. 

234 


BRER RABBIT’S BEEF SUPPLY 

He adjusted his spectacles, looked around and behind him, and 
then, seeing no one but the child, addressed himself to the rafters 
and cobwebs: — 

“Well! well! well! ef dish yer don’t beat all! Gentermens! dish 
yer little chap yer, he puny in de legs, yit he mighty strong in de 
head.” 

He paused, as if reflecting over the whole matter, and then 
turned to the child: — 

“Is dat w’at make you hone atter Daddy Jack, honey — des 
’kaze you wanter set back dar en lissen at a tale? Now, den, ef 
you had n’t ’a’ got me off ’n de track, you’d ’a’ bin settin’ yer 
lis’nen at one un um dis blessid minnit, ’kaze des time I year talk 
dat Mars John gwine ter have dat ar long-hornded steer kilt fer 
beef, hit come ’cross my min’ ’bout de time w’ence Brer Rabbit en 
Brer Fox j’ined in wid one er ’n’er en kilt a cow.” 

“Killed a cow. Uncle Remus?” 

“Des ez sho’ ez youer settin’ dar,” replied the old man with 
emphasis. “Look lak dey wa’n’t no kinder doin’s w’at dem ar 
creeturs wa’n’t up ter, mo’ speshually ole Brer Rabbit. Day in en 
day out, fum mawnin’ twel night en fum night twel mawnin’, he 
’uz constant a-studyin’ up some bran new kinder contrapshun 
fer ter let de yuther creeturs know he ’uz some’rs in de neighbor¬ 
hoods. 

“ Come down ter dat, you kin b’leeve me er not b’leeve me, des 
ez you er min’ ter; you kin take yo’ choosement; but ole Brer 
Rabbit en ole Brer Fox, spite er dey failin’ out, dey tuck’n go inter 
cahoots en kilt a cow. Seem lak I disremember who de cow b’long 
ter,” continued the old man, frowning thoughtfully, and thus, by 
a single stroke, imparting an air of reality to the story; “but she 
sho’ly b’long’d ter some er de neighbors, ’kaze you kin des put it 
down, right pine-blank, dat Brer Rabbit ain’t gwine ter kill he 
own cow, en needer is Brer Fox. 

“Well, den, dey tuck’n kilt a cow, en’t wa’n’t dey own cow, 
235 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

en atter dey done skunt ’er Brer Rabbit, he up’n ’low, he did, dat 
ef Brer Fox wanter git de good er de game, he better run home en 
fetch a tray er sump’n’ fer put de jiblets in.” 

“Jiblets, Uncle Remus?” 

“Tooby sho’, honey. Dats w’at we-all calls de liver, de lights, de 
heart, en de melt. Some calls um jiblets en some calls um hasletts, 
but ef you’ll lemme take um en kyar um home, you kin des up en 
call um mos’ by any name w’at creep inter yo’ min’. You do de 
namin’,” the old man went on, smacking his lips suggestively, 
“en I’ll do de eatin’, en ef I’m de loser, I boun’ you won’t year 
no complaints fum me. 

“But, law bless me! w’at is I’m a-doin’? De time’s a-passin’, 
en I’m ain’t skacely got start on de tale. Dey kilt de cow, dey 
did, en Brer Rabbit tell Brer Fox ’bout de jiblets, en w’iles Brer 
Fox gwine on home atter de bucket fer ter put um in, he say ter 
hisse’f dat Brer Rabbit ain’t bad ez he crackt up ter be. But no 
sooner is Brer Fox outer sight dan Brer Rabbit cut out de jiblets, 
he did, en kyar’d um off en hide um. Den he come back en tuck a 
piece er de meat en drap blood ’way off de udder way. 

“Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid he bucket, en w’en he git dar 
Brer Rabbit wuz settin’ down cryin’. Mon, he ’uz des a-boohoo- 
in’. Brer Fox, he ’low: — 

“‘Name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! w’at de marter?’ 

‘“’Nuff de marter — ’nuff de marter. I wish you’d ’a’ stayed 
yer w’iles you wuz yer — dat I does, Brer Fox!’ 

“ ‘How come, Brer Rabbit, — how come?’ 

“‘Man come, Brer Fox, en stole all yo’ nice jiblets. I bin 
a-runnin’ atter ’im, Brer Fox, but he outrun me.’ 

“‘W’ich a-way he go, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘Yer de way he went, Brer Fox; yer whar he drap de blood. 
Ef you be right peart, Brer Fox, you’ll ketch ’im.’ 

“Brer Fox he drapt de bucket, he did, en put out atter de man 
w’at tuck de jiblets, en he wa’n’t out’n sight good, ’fo’ ole Brer 

236 


BRER RABBIT’S BEEF SUPPLY 

Rabbit sail in en cut out all de fat en taller, en kyar’ it off en hide 
it. Atter w’ile, yer come Brer Fox back des a-puffin’ en a-pantin’. 
He ain’t see no man. Brer Rabbit, he hail ’im: — 

“‘You ain’t come a minnit too soon, Brer Fox, dat you ain’t. 
W’iles you bin gone ’n’er man come ’long en kyar’d off all de taller 
en fat. He went right off dat a-way. Brer Fox, en ef you’ll be 
right peart, you’ll ketch ’im.’ 

“Brer Fox, he tuck’n put out, he did, en run, en run, yit he 
ain’t see no man. W’iles he done gone Brer Rabbit kyar off one 
er de behime quarters. Brer Fox come back; he ain’t see no man. 
Brer Rabbit holler en tell ’im dat ’ne’r man done come en got a 
behime quarter en run’d off wid it. 

“Brer Fox sorter study ’bout dis, ’kaze it look lak nobody 
yuver see de like er mens folks passin’ by dat one lonesome cow. 
He make out he gwine ter run atter de man w’at steal de behime 
quarter, but he ain’t git fur ’fo’ he tuck’n tu’n ’roun’ en crope 
back, en he ’uz des in time fer ter see Brer Rabbit makin’ off wid 
de yuther behime quarter. Brer Fox mighty tired wid runnin’ 
hether en yan, en backards en forrerds, but he git so mad w’en 
he see Brer Rabbit gwine off dat a-way, dat he dash up en ax ’im 
whar is he gwine wid dat ar beef. 

“Brer Rabbit lay de beef down, he did, en look lak he feelin’s 
hurted. He look at Brer Fox lak he feel mighty sorry fer folks 
w’at kin ax foolish questions lak dat. He shake he head, he did, 
en ’low f— 

“‘Well, well, well! Who’d ’a’ thunk dat Brer Fox would ’a’ 
come axin’ me ’bout dish yer beef, w’ich anybody would er know’d 
I ’uz a-kyar’n off fer ter save fer ’im, so nobody could n’t git 
it?’ 

“ But dish yer kinder talk don’t suit Brer Fox, en he tuck’n make 
a motion ’zef 1 ter ketch Brer Rabbit, but Brer Rabbit he ’gun ’im 
leg bail, en dar dey had it thoo de woods twel Brer Rabbit come 

1 As if. 

237 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


’pon a holler tree, en inter dat he went, des lak one er deze streaked 
lizzuds goes inter a hole in de san’.” 

“And then,” said the little boy, as Uncle Remus paused, 
“along came Brother Buzzard, and Brother Fox set him to watch 
the hole, and Brother Rabbit said he had found a fat squirrel 
which he would run out on the other side; and then he came out 
and ran home.” 

This was the climax of a story that Uncle Remus had told a 
long time before, and he looked at his little partner with aston¬ 
ishment not unmixed with admiration. 

“I ’clar’ ter gracious, honey!” he exclaimed, “ef you hoi’s on 
ter yo’ pra’rs lak you does ter deze yer tales youer doin’ mighty 
well. But don’t you try ter hoi’ Brer Rabbit down ter one trick, 
you won’t never keep up wid ’im in de ’roun’ worl’ — dat you 
won’t. 

“ Ole Brer Buzzard wuz dar, en Brer Fox ax ’im fer ter watch de 
hole, but he ain’t bin dar long ’fo’ Brer Rabbit sing out: — 

“ ‘ I got de ’vantage un you, dis whet, Brer Buzzard, I sho’ly is.’ 

“‘How dat, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘’Kaze I kin see you, en you can’t see me.’ 

“Wid dat Brer Buzzard stuck he head in de hole, en look up; 
en no sooner is he do dis dan Brer Rabbit fill he eyes full er san’, 
en w’iles he gone ter de branch fer ter wash it out, Brer Rabbit 
he come down outer de holler, en went back ter whar de cow wuz; 
en mo’ dan dat, Brer Rabbit got de ballunce un de beef.” 


XL VIII 

BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, after a pause, “where did 
Brother Rabbit go when he got out of the hollow tree?” 

“Well, sir,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, “you ain’t gwine ter 
238 


BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT 

b’leeve me, skacely,’ but dat owdashus creetur ain’t no sooner git 
out er dat ar tree dan he go en git hisse’f mix up wid some mo’ 
trouble, w’ich he git mighty nigh skeer’d out’n he skin. 

“W’en Brer Rabbit git out’n de holler tree, he tuck’n fling 
some sass back at ole Brer Buzzard, he did, en den he put out 
down de big road, stidder gwine ’long back home en see ’bout he 
fambly. He ’uz gwine ’long — lickety-clickety, clickety-lickety — 
w’en fus’ news you know he feel sump’n’ ’n’er drap down ’pun 
’im, en dar he wuz. Bless yo’ soul, w’en Brer Rabbit kin git he 
’membunce terge’er, he feel ole Mr. Wildcat a-huggin’ ’im fum 
behime, en w’ispun in he year.” 

“What did he whisper, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy. 

* “Dis, dat, en de udder, one thing en a nudder.” 

“But what did he say?” 

“De way un it wuz dis,” said Uncle Remus, ignoring the child’s 
question, “Brer Rabbit, he ’uz gallin’-up down de road, en ole 
Mr. Wildcat, he ’uz layin’ stretch’ out takin’ a nap on a tree-lim’ 
hangin’ ’crosst de road. He year Brer Rabbit come a-lickity- 
clickitin’ down de road, en he des sorter fix hisse’f, en w’en Brer 
Rabbit come a-dancin’ und’ de lim’, all Mr. Wildcat got ter do is 
ter drap right down on ’im, en dar he wuz. Mr. Wildcat hug ’im 
right up at ’im, en laugh en w’isper in he year.” 

“ Well, Uncle Remus, what did he say ? ” persisted the little boy. 

The old man made a sweeping gesture with his left hand that 
might mean everything or nothing, and proceeded to tell the story 
in his own way. 

“Ole Mr. Wildcat hug Brer Rabbit up close en w’isper in he 
year. Brer Rabbit, he kick, he squall. Bimeby he ketch he breff 
en ’low: — 

“‘Ow! O Lordy-lordy! W’at I done gone en done now?’ 

“Mr. Wildcat, he rub he wet nose on Brer Rabbit year, en 
make cole chill run up he back. Bimeby he say: — 

“‘O Brer Rabbit, I des nat’ally loves you! You bin a-foolin’ 
239 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

all er my cousins en all er my kinfolks, en’t ain’t bin so mighty 
long sence you set Cousin Fox on me, en little mo’ en I’d a-to’ 
’im in two. O Brer Rabbit! I des nat’ally loves you,’ sezee. 

“Den he laugh, en he toofs strak terge’er right close ter Brer 
Rabbit year. Brer Rabbit, he ’low, he did: — 

“‘Law, Mr. Wildcat, I thunk maybe you mought lak ter have 
Brer Fox fer supper, en dat de reason I sent ’im up ter whar you 
is. Hit done come ter mighty purty pass w’en folks can’t be fr’en’s 
’ceppin’ sump’n’ ’n’er step in ’twix’ en ’tween um, en ef dat de 
case I ain’t gwine ter be fr’en’s no mo’ — dat I ain’t.’ 

“ Mr. Wildcat wipe he nose on Brer Rabbit year, en he do sorter 
lak he studyin’. Brer Rabbit he keep on talkin’. He ’low: — 

“‘Endurin’ er all dis time, is I ever pester ’long wid you, Mr. 
Wildcat?’ 

“‘No, Brer Rabbit, I can’t say ez you is.’ 

“‘No, Mr. Wildcat, dat I ain’t. Let ’lone dat, I done my level 
bes’ fer ter he’p you out. En dough you done jump on me en 
skeer me scan’lous, yit I’m willin’ ter do you ’n’er good tu’n. I 
year some wild turkeys yelpin’ out yan’, en ef you ’ll des lem me 
off dis time, I ’ll go out dar en call um up, en you kin make lak you 
dead, en dey’ll come up en stretch dey neck over you, en you kin 
jump up en kill a whole passel un um ’fo’ dey kin git out de way.’ 

“Mr. Wildcat stop en study, ’kaze ef dey er one kinder meat 
w’at he lak dat meat is turkey meat. Den he tuck’n ax Brer Rab¬ 
bit is he jokin’. Brer Rabbit say ef he ’uz settin’ off some’rs by 
he own-’lone se’f he mought be jokin’, but how de name er good¬ 
ness is he kin joke w’en Mr. Wildcat got ’im hug up so tight? Dis 
look so pleezy-plozzy 1 dat’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ Mr. Wildcat ’low 
dat he ’uz mighty willin’ ef Brer Rabbit mean w’at he say, en 
atter w’ile, bless yo’ soul, ef you’d ’a’ come ’long dar, you’d er 
seed ole Mr. Wildcat layin’ stretch out on de groun’ lookin’ fer all 
de wul’ des lak he done bin dead a mont’, en you’d er yeard ole 

1 No doubt this means that Brother Rabbit’s proposition was pleasant and plausible. 

240 


BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT 

Brer Rabbit a-yelpin’ out in de bushes des lak a sho’ ’nuff tukky- 
hen.” 

The little boy was always anxious for a practical demonstra¬ 
tion, and he asked Uncle Remus how Brother Rabbit could yelp 
like a turkey-hen. For reply, Uncle Remus searched upon his 
rude mantel-piece until he found a reed, which he intended to use 
as a pipe-stem. One end of this he placed in his mouth, enclosing 
the other in his hands. By sucking the air through the reed with 
his mouth, and regulating the tone and volume by opening or 
closing his hands, the old man was able to produce a marvellous 
imitation of the call of the turkey-hen, much to the delight and 
astonishment of the little boy. 

“Ah, Lord!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, after he had repeated 
the call until the child was satisfied, “manys en manys de time is 
I gone out in de woods wid old marster ’fo’ de crack er day en call 
de wile turkeys right spang up ter whar we could er kilt um wid 
a stick. W’en we fus’ move yer fum Ferginny, dey use ter come 
right up ter whar de barn sets, en mo’n dat I done seed ole marster 
kill um right out dar by de front gate. But folks fum town been 
cornin’ ’roun’ yer wid der p’inter dogs twel hit done got so dat ef 
you wanter see turkey track you gotter go down dar ter de 
Oconee, en dat’s two mile off.” 

“Did the Wildcat catch the turkeys?” the little boy inquired, 
when it seemed that Uncle Remus was about to give his entire 
attention to his own reminiscences. < 

“De gracious en de goodness!” exclaimed the old man. “Yer 
I is runnin’ on en dar lays Mr. Wildcat waitin’ fer Brer Rabbit 
fer ter help dem turkeys up. En’t ain’t take ’im long nudder, 
’kaze, bless yo’ soul, ole Brer Rabbit wuz a yelper, mon. 

“Sho’ ’nuff, atter w’ile yer dey come, ole Brer Gibley Gobbler 
wukkin’ in de lead. Brer Rabbit, he run’d en meet um en gun 
um de wink ’bout ole Mr. Wildcat, en by de time dey git up ter 
whar he layin’, Brer Gibley Gobbler en all his folks wuz jined in 

241 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

a big ’spute. One ’low he dead, ’n’er one ’low he ain’t, ’n’er one 
’low he stiff, udder one ’low he ain’t, en t’udder ’low he is. So dar 
dey had it. Dey stretch out dey neck en step high wid dey foot, 
yit dey ain’t git too close ter Mr. Wildcat. 

“He lay dar, he did, en he ain’t move. Win’ ruffle up he ha’r, 
yit he ain’t move; sun shine down ’pun ’im, yit he ain’t move. De 
turkeys dey gobble en dey yelp, but dey ain’t go no nigher; dey 
holler en dey ’spute, but dey ain’t go no nigher; dey stretch dey 
neck en dey lif’ dey foot high, yit dey ain’t go no nigher. 

“Hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Wildcat git tired er 
waitin’, en he jump up, he did, en make a dash at de nighest 
turkey; but dat turkey done fix, on w’en Mr. Wildcat come at 
’im, he des riz in de a’r, en Mr. Wildcat run und’ ’im. Den he 
tuck’n run at ’n’er one, en dat un fly up; en dey keep on dat a-way 
twel ’twa’n’t long ’fo’ Mr. Wildcat wuz so stiff in de j’ints en so 
short in de win’ dat he des hatter lay down on de groun’ en res’, 
en w’en he do dis, ole Brer Gibley Gobler en all er he folks went 
on ’bout dey own business; but sence dat day deyer constant 
a-’sputin’ ’long wid deyse’f en eve’ybody w’at come by. Ef you 
don’t b’leeve me,” with an air of disposing of the whole matter 
judicially, “you kin des holler at de fus’ Gobbler w’at you meets, 
en ef he ’fuse ter holler back atter you, you kin des use my head 
fer a hole in de wall; en w’at mo’ kin you ax dan dat?” 

“What became of Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?” 

“Well, sir, Brer Rabbit tuck’n lef’ dem low-groun’s. W’iles de 
’sputin’ wuz gwine on, he tuck’n bowed his good-byes, en den he 
des put out fum dar. Nex’ day ole Brer Gibley Gobbler tuck’n 
sent ’im a turkey wing fer ter make a fan out’n, en Brer Rabbit, 
he tuck’n sent it ter Miss Meadows en de gals. En I let you know,” 
continued the old man, chuckling heartily to himself, “dey make 
great ’miration ’bout it.” 


jVjr. genjamin pero 

j^efer»cis Tjit'D.self 



























I 












XLIX 

MR. BENJAMIN RAM DEFENDS HIMSELF 


“I ’speck we all dun gone en fergot ole Mr. Benjermun Ram 
off’n our min’,” said Uncle Remus, one night, as the little boy 
went into the cabin with a large ram’s horn hanging on his 
arm. 

“About his playing the fiddle and getting lost in the woods!” 
exclaimed the child. “Oh, no, I haven’t forgotten him, Uncle 
Remus. I remember just how he tuned his fiddle in Brother 
Wolf’s house.” 

“ Dat’s me! ” saidTJncle Remus with enthusiasm; “ dat’s me up 
en down. Mr. Ram des ez fresh in my min’ now ez he wuz de day 
I year de tale. Dat ole creetur wuz a sight, mon. He mos’ sho’ly 
wuz. He wrinkly ole hawn en de shaggy ha’r on he neck make 
’im look mighty servigous , 1 en w’ence he shake he head en snort, 
hit seem lak he gwine ter fair paw de yeth fum und’ ’im. 

“Ole Brer Fox bin pickin’ up ole Mr. Benjermun Ram chilluns 
w’en dey git too fur fum home, but look lak he ain’t never bin 
git close ter de ole creetur. 

“So one time w’en he ’uz cornin’ on down de road, talkin’ ’long 
wid Brer Wolf, he up’n ’low, ole Brer Fox did, dat he mighty 
hongry in de neighborhoods er de stomach. Dis make Brer Wolf 
look lak he ’stonish’d, en he ax Brer Fox how de name er goodness 
come he hongry w’en ole Mr. Benjermun Ram layin’ up dar in de 
house des a-rollin’ in fat. 

“Den Brer Fox tuck’n ’low, he did, dat he done bin in de habits 
er eatin’ Mr. Benjermun Ram chillun, but he sorter fear’d er de 

1 Wild; fierce; dangerous; courageous. The accent is on the second syllable, ser-ri- 
gous; or, ser-w-gus, and the g is hard. Aunt Tempy would have said “vigrous.” 

24 5 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


ole creetur ’kaze he look so bad on de ’count er he red eye en he 
wrinkly hawn. 

“Brer Wolf des holler en laugh, en den he ’low: — 

“‘Lordy, Brer Fox! I dunner w’at kinder man is you, nohow! 
W’y, dat ar ole creetur ain’t never hurted a flea in all he born days 
— dat he ain’t,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox, he look at Brer Wolf right hard, he did, en den he 
up’n ’low: — 

“‘Heyo, Brer Wolf! manys de time dat you bin hongry ’roun’ 
in deze diggin’s en I ain’t year talk er you makin’ a meal off’n Mr. 
Benjermun Ram,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox talk so close ter de fatal trufe, dat Brer Wolf got 
tooken wid de dry grins, yit he up’n ’spon’, sezee: — 

“‘I des lak ter know who in de name er goodness wanter eat 
tough creetur lak dat ole Mr. Benjermun Ram — dat w’at I lak 
ter know,’ sezee. 

“Brer Fox, he holler en laugh, he did, en den he up’n say: — 

“‘Ah-yi, Brer Wolf! You ax me w’at I goes hongry fer, w’en 
ole Mr. Benjermun Ram up dar in he house, yit you done bin 
hongry manys en manys de time, en still ole Mr. Benjermun Ram 
up dar in he house. Now, den, how you gwine do in a case lak 
dat?’ sez Brer Fox, sezee. 

“Brer Wolf, he strak de een’ er he cane down ’pun de groun’, 
en he say, sezee: — 

“‘I done say all I got ter say, en w’at I say, dat I’ll stick ter. 
Dat ole creetur lots too tough.’ 

“Hongry ez he is, Brer Fox laugh way down in he stomach. 
Atter w’ile he ’low: — 

“‘Well, den, Brer Wolf, stidder ’sputin’ ’longer you, I’m gwine 
do w’at you say; I’m gwine ter go up dar en git a bait er ole 
Mr. Benjermun Ram, en I wish you be so good ez ter go ’long wid 
me fer comp’ny,’ sezee. 

“Brer Wolf jaw sorter fall w’en he year dis, en he ’low: — 

246 


MR. BENJAMIN RAM DEFENDS HIMSELF 

Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I druther go by my own — ’lone se’f,’ sezee. 

“‘Well, den,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee, ‘you better make ’as’e,’ 
sezee, ‘ ’kaze ’t ain’t gwine ter take me so mighty long fer ter go 
up dar en make hash out’n ole Mr. Benjermun Ram,’ sezee. 

“Brer Wolf know mighty well,” said Uncle Remus, snapping 
his huge tongs in order to silence a persistent cricket in the chim¬ 
ney / 4 dat ef he dast ter back out fum a banter lak dat he never 
is ter year de las’ un it fum Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de 
gals, en he march off todes Mr. Benjermun Ram house. 

“Little puff er win’ come en blow’d up some leafs, en Brer 
Wolf jump lak somebody shootin’ at ’im, en he fly mighty mad 
w’en he year Brer Fox laugh. He men’ he gait, he did, en’t wa’n’t 
’long ’fo’ he ’uz knockin’ at Mr. Benjermun Ram do’. 

“He knock at de do’, he did, en co’se he ’speck somebody fer ter 
come open de do’; but stidder dat, lo’ en beholes yer come Mr. 
Benjermun Ram ’roun’ de house. Dar he wuz — red eye, wrinkly 
hawn en shaggy head. Now, den, in case lak dat, w’at a slim¬ 
legged man lak Brer Wolf gwine do? Dey ain’t no two ways, he 
gwine ter git ’way fum dar, en he went back ter whar Brer Fox 
is mo’ samer dan ef de patter-rollers wuz atter ’im. 

“Brer Fox, he laugh en he laugh, en ole Brer Wolf, he look 
mighty glum. Brer Fox ax ’im is he done kilt en e’t Mr. Ben¬ 
jermun Ram, en ef so be, is he lef’ any fer him. Brer Wolf say he 
ain’t feelin’ well, en he don’t lak mutton nohow. Brer Fox ’low: — 

“ ‘ You may be puny in de min’, Brer Wolf, but you ain’t feelin’ 
bad in de leg, ’kaze I done seed you wuk um.’ 

“Brer Wolf ’low he des a-runnin’ fer ter see ef’t won’t mak 
’im feel better. Brer Fox, he say, sezee, dat w’en he feelin’ puny, 
he ain’t ax no mo’ dan fer somebody fer ter git out de way en let 
’im lay down. 

“Dey went on in dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby Brer Fox ax 
Brer Wolf ef he’ll go wid ’im fer ter ketch Mr. Benjermun Ram. 
Brer Wolf, he ’low, he did: — 


247 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“ ‘Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I fear’d you’ll run en lef’ me dar fer ter do 
all de fightin’.’ 

“Brer Fox, he ’low dat he’ll fix dat, en he tuck’n got ’im a 
plough-line, en tied one een’ ter Brer Wolf en t’er een’ ter he own 
se’f. Wid dat dey put out fer Mr. Benjermun Ram house. Brer 
Wolf, he sorter hang back, but he ’shame’ fer ter say he skeer’d, 
en dey went on en went on plum twel dey git right spang up ter 
Mr. Benjermun Ram house. 

“ W’en dey git dar, de ole creetur wuz settin’ out in de front 
po’ch sorter sunnin’ hisse’f. He see um cornin’, en w’en dey git up 
in hailin’ distance, he sorter cle’r up he th’oat, he did, en holler 
out: — 

“‘I much ’blije to you. Brer Fox, fer ketchin’ dat owdashus 
vilyun en fetchin’ ’im back. My smoke-’ouse runnin’ short, en 
I’ll des chop ’im up en pickle ’im. Fetch ’im in, Brer Fox! fetch 
’im in!’ 

“Des ’bout dat time ole Miss Ram see dem creeturs a-comin’, 
en gentermens! you mought er yeard er blate plum ter town. 
Mr. Benjermun Ram, he sorter skeer’d hisse’f, but he keep on 
talkin’: — 

“‘Fetch ’im in, Brer Fox! fetch ’im in! Don’t you year my ole 
’oman cryin’ fer ’im? She ain’t had no wolf meat now in gwine 
on mighty nigh a mont’. Fetch ’im in, Brer Fox! fetch ’im in!’ 

“Fus’ Brer Wolf try ter on tie hisse’f, den he tuck’n broke en 
run’d, en he drag ole Brer Fox atter ’im des lak he ain’t weigh 
mo’n a poun’, en I let you know hit ’uz many a long day ’fo’ Brer 
Fox git well er de thumpin’ he got.” 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy after a while, “I thought 
wolves always caught sheep when they had the chance.” 

“Dey ketches lam’s, honey, but bless yo’ soul! dey ain’t ketch 
deze yer ole-time Rams wid red eye en wrinkly hawn.” 

“Where was Brother Rabbit all this time?” 

“Now, den, honey, don’t less pester wid ole Brer Rabbit right 
248 


BRER RABBIT AND THE POISON 


now. Des less gin ’im one night rest, mo’ speshually w’en I year 
de seven stares say yo’ bed-time done come. Des take yo’ foot in 
yo’ han’ en put right out ’fo’ Miss Sally come a-callin’ you, ’kaze 
den she ’ll say I’m a-settin’ yer a-noddin’ en not takin’ keer un 
you.” 

The child laughed and ran up the path to the big-house, stop¬ 
ping a moment on the way to mimic a bull-frog that was bellow¬ 
ing at a tremendous rate near the spring. 


L 

BRER RABBIT PRETENDS TO BE POISONED 

Not many nights after the story of how Mr. Benjamin Ram 
frightened Brother Wolf and Brother Fox, the little boy found 
himself in Uncle Remus’s cabin. It had occurred to him that Mr. 
Ram should have played on his fiddle somewhere in the tale, and 
Uncle Remus was called on to explain. He looked at the little boy 
with an air of grieved astonishment, and exclaimed: — 

“ Well, I be bless if I ever year der beat er dat. Yer you bin 
a-persooin’ on atter deze yer creeturs en makin’ der ’quaintunce, 
en yit look lak ef you ’uz ter meet um right up dar in der paff 
you’d fergit all ’bout who dey is.” 

“Oh, no, I wouldn’t, Uncle Remus!” protested the child, 
glancing at the door and getting a little closer to the old man. 

“Yasser! you’d des nat’ally whirl in en fergit ’bout who dey is. 
’T ain’t so mighty long sence I done tole you ’bout ole Mr. Ben- 
jermun Ram playin’ he fiddle at Brer Wolf house, en yer you 
come en ax me how come he don’t take en play it at ’im ’g’in. 
W’at kinder lookin’ sight ’ud dat ole creetur a-bin ef he’d jump 
up en grab he fiddle en go ter playin’ on it eve’y time he year a 
fuss down de big road?” 

The little boy said nothing, but he thought the story would 

249 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


have been a great deal nicer if Mr. Benjamin Ram could have 
played one of the old-time tunes on his fiddle, and while he was 
thinking about it, the door opened and Aunt Tempy made her 
appearance. Her good-humor was infectious. 

“Name er goodness!” she exclaimed, “I lef’ you all settin’ yer 
way las’ week; I goes off un I does my wuk, un I comes back, un 
I fines you settin’ right whar I lef you. Goodness knows, I 
dunner whar you gits yo’ vittles. I dunner whar I ain’t bin sence 
I lef’ you all settin’ yer. I let you know I bin a-usin’ my feet un I 
been a-usin’ my han’s. Dat’s me. No use ter ax how you all is, 
’kaze you looks lots better’n me.” 

“Yas, Sis Tempy, we er settin’ yer whar you lef’ us, en der 
Lord, he bin a-pervidin’. W’en de vittles don’t come in at de do’ 
hit come down de chimbly, en so w’at de odds? We er sorter 
po’ly, Sis Tempy, I’m ’blige ter you. You know w’at de jay-bird 
say ter der squinch owl! ‘I’m sickly but sassy.’” 

Aunt Tempy laughed as she replied: “I ’speck you all bin 
a-havin’ lots er fun. Goodness knows I wish many a time sence 
I bin gone dat I ’uz settin’ down yer runnin’ on wid you all. 
I ain’t bin gone fur — dat’s so, yit Mistiss put me ter cuttin’-out, 
un I tell you now dem w’at cuts out de duds fer all de niggers on 
dis place is got ter wuk fum soon in de mawnin’ plum tel bed¬ 
time, dey ain’t no two ways. ’T ain’t no wuk youk’n kyar’ ’bout 
wid you needer, ’kaze you got ter spread it right out on de flo’ 
un git down on yo’ knees. I mighty glad I done wid it, ’kaze my 
back feel like it done broke in a thous’n pieces. Honey, is Brer 
Remus bin a-tellin’ you some mo’ er dem ole-time tales?” 

Aunt Tempy’s question gave the little boy an excuse for giving 
her brief outlines of some of the stories. One that he seemed to 
remember particularly well was the story of how Brother Rabbit 
and Brother Fox killed a cow, and how Brother Rabbit got the 
most and the best of the beef. 

“I done year talk uv a tale like dat,” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, 
250 


BRER RABBIT AND THE POISON 


laughing heartily, “but’t ain’t de same tale. I mos’ ’shame’ ter 
tell it.” 

“You gittin’ too ole ter be blushin’, Sis Tempy,” said Uncle 
Remus with dignity. 

“Well den,” said Aunt Tempy, wiping her fat face with her 
apron: “One time Brer Rabbit un Brer Wolf tuck’n gone off 
som’ers un kilt a cow, un w’en dey come fer ter ’vide out de 
kyarkiss, Brer Wolf ’low dat bein’s he de biggest he oughter 
have de mos’, un he light in, he did, un do like he gwine ter take 
it all. Brer Rabbit do like he don’t keer much, but he keer so 
bad hit make ’im right sick. He tuck’n walk all ’roun’ de kyar¬ 
kiss, he did, un snuff de air, un terreckly he say: — 

“‘Brer Wolf! — O Brer Wolf! — is dis meat smell ’zuckly 
right ter you?’ 

“Brer Wolf, he cuttin’ un he kyarvin’ un he ain’t sayin’ 
nothin’. Brer Rabbit, he walk all ’roun’ un ’roun’ de kyarkiss. 
He feel it un he kick it. Terreckly he say: — 

“‘Brer Wolf! — O Brer Wolf! — Dis meat feel mighty flabby 
ter me; how it feel ter you?’ 

“Brer Wolf, he year all dat’s said, but he keep on a-cuttin’ un 
a kyarvin’. Brer Rabbit say: — 

“‘You kin talk er not talk, Brer Wolf, des ez youer min’ ter, 
yit ef I ain’t mistooken in de sign, you’ll do some tall talkin’ ’fo* 
youer done wid dis beef. Now you mark w’at I tell you!’ 

“Brer Rabbit put out fum dar, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ yer he come 
back wid a chunk er fier, un a dish er salt. W’en Brer Wolf see dis, 
he say: — 

“‘W’at you gwine do wid all dat, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“Brer Rabbit laugh like he know mo’ dan he gwine tell, un he 
say: — 

“‘Bless yo’ soul, Brer Wolf! I ain’t gwine ter kyar er poun’ er 
dis meat home tel I fin’ out w’at de matter wid it. No I ain’t — 
so dar now! ’ 


251 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Den Brer Rabbit built ’im a fier un cut ’im off a slishe er 
steak un br’ilte it good un done, un den he e’t little uv it. Fus’ 
he’d tas’e un den he’d nibble; den he’d nibble un den he’d tas’e. 
He keep on tel he e’t right smart piece. Den he went’n sot off little 
ways like he waitin’ fer sump’n’. 

“Brer Wolf, he kyarve un he cut, but he keep one eye on Brer 
Rabbit. Brer Rabbit sot up dar same ez Judge on de bench. Brer 
Wolf, he watch his motions. Terreckly Brer Rabbit fling bofe 
han’s up ter he head un fetch a groan. Brer Wolf cut un kyarve un 
watch Brer Rabbit motions. Brer Rabbit sorter sway backerds 
un forrerds un fetch ’n’er groan. Den he sway fum side to side 
un holler ‘O Lordy!’ Brer Wolf, he sorter ’gun ter git skeer’d un 
he ax Brer Rabbit w’at de matter. Brer Rabbit, he roll on de 
groun’ un holler: — 

“‘O Lordy, Lordy! I’m pizen’d, I’m pizen’d! O Lordy! I’m 
pizen’d! Run yer, somebody, run yer! De meat done got pizen 
on it. Oh, do run yer!’ 

“Brer Wolf git so skeer’d dat he put out fum dar, un he wa’n’t 
out er sight skacely ’fo’ Brer Rabbit jump up fum dar un cut de 
pidjin-wing, un’t wa’n’t so mighty long atter dat ’fo’ Brer Rabbit 
done put all er dat beef in his smoke-house.” 

“What became of Brother Wolf?” the little boy inquired. 

“Brer Wolf went atter de doctor,” continued Aunt Tempy, 
making little tucks in her apron, “un w’en he come back Brer 
Rabbit un de beef done gone; un, bless goodness, ef it had n’t er 
bin fer de sign whar Brer Rabbit built de fier, Brer Wolf would er 
bin mightly pester’d fer ter fine der place whar de cow bin kilt.” 

At this juncture, ’Tildy, the house-girl, came in to tell Aunt 
Tempy that one of the little negroes had been taken suddenly sick. 

I bin huntin’ fer you over de whole blessid place,” said 
’Tildy. 

No, you ain t no, you ain’t. You ain’t bin huntin’ nowhar. 
You know’d mighty well whar I wuz.” 

252 


MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF 


“Law, Mam’ Tempy, I can't keep up wid you. How I know 
you down yer courtin' wid Unk Remus?" 

“Yo’ head mighty full er courtin’, you nas’ stinkin’ huzzy!" 
exclaimed Aunt Tempy. 

Uncle Remus, strange to say, was unmoved. He simply said: — 

“W’en you see dat ar 'Tildy gal pirootin' 'roun' I boun' you 
ole Brer Affikin Jack ain’t fur off. 'T won’t be so mighty long 
’fo’ de ole creetur’ll show up." 

“ How you know dat, Unk Remus? ’’ exclaimed ’Tildy, showing 
her white teeth and stretching her eyes. “Hit’s de Lord’s trufe; 
Mass Jeems done writ a letter ter Miss Sally, en’ he say in dat 
letter dat Daddy Jack ax ’im fer ter tell Miss Sally ter tell me dat 
he ’ll be up yer dis week. Dat ole Affikin ape got de impidence er 
de Ole Boy. He dunner who he foolin’ ’longer!" 


LI 

MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF 

The next night the little boy hardly waited to eat his supper be¬ 
fore going to Uncle Remus’s house; and when Aunt Tempy failed 
to put in an appearance as early as he thought necessary, he did 
not hesitate to go after her. He had an idea that there was a sequel 
to the story she had told the night before, and he was right. After 
protesting against being dragged around from post to pillar by 
children, Aunt Tempy said: — 

“Atter Brer Rabbit tuck’n make out he ’uz pizen’d un git all 
de beef, ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he chance to meet ole Brer Wolf right 
spang in de middle uv de road. Brer Rabbit, he sorter shied off 
ter one side, but Brer Wolf hail ’im: — 

“‘W’oa dar, my colty! don’t be so gayly. You better be 
’shame’ yo’se’f ’bout de way you do me w’en we go inter cahoots 
wid dat beef.’ 


253 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Brer Rabbit, he up’n ax Brer Wolf how all his folks. Brer 
Wolf say: — 

“ ‘ You ’ll fin’ out how dey all is ’fo’ dis day gone by. You took’n 
took de beef, en now I’m a-gwine ter take’n take you.’ 

“Wid dis Brer Wolf make a dash at Brer Rabbit, but he des 
lack a little bit uv bein’ quick ’nuff, en Brer Rabbit he des went 
a-sailin’ thoo de woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter ’im, en yer dey 
had it — fus’ Brer Rabbit en den Brer Wolf. Brer Rabbit mo’ 
soopler dan Brer Wolf, but Brer Wolf got de ’vantage er de win’, 
en terreckly he push Brer Rabbit so close dat he run in a holler 
log. 

“Brer Rabbit bin in dat log befo’ en he know dey’s a hole at 
de t’er een’, en he des keep on a-gwine. He dart in one een’ en 
he slip out de udder. He ain’t stop ter say goo’-bye; bless you! 
he des keep on gwine. 

“Brer Wolf, he see Brer Rabbit run in de holler log, en he say 
ter hisse’f: — 

“‘Heyo, dey bin callin’ you so mighty cunnin’ all dis time, en 
yer you done gone en shot yo’se’f up in my trap.’ 

“Den Brer Wolf laugh en lay down by de een’ whar Brer Rab¬ 
bit went in, en pant en res’ hisse’f. He see whar Brer B’ar burnin’ 
off a new groun’, en he holler en ax ’im fer ter fetch ’im a chunk 
er fier, en Brer B’ar he fotch it, en dey sot fier ter de holler log, 
en dey sot dar en watch it till it burn plum up. Den dey took’n 
shuck han’s, en Brer Wolf say he hope dat atter dat dey’ll have 
some peace in de neighborhoods.” 

Uncle Remus smiled a knowing smile as he filled his pipe, but 
Aunt Tempy continued with great seriousness: — 

“One time atter dat, Brer Wolf, he took’n pay a call down ter 
Miss Meadows, en w’en he git dar en see Brer Rabbit settin’ up 
side uv one er de gals, he like to ’a’ fainted, dat he did. He ’uz dat 
’stonish’d dat he look right down-hearted all endurin’ uv de 
party. 


254 


MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF 

Brer Rabbit, he bow’d his howdies ter Brer Wolf un shuck 
han s long wid ’im, des like nothin’ ain’t never happen ’twixt 
’um, en he up’n say: — 

Ah-law, Brer Wolf! Youer much mo’ my fr’en’ dan you ever 
’speckted ter be, en you kin des count on me right straight 
’long.’ 

Brer Wolf say he feel sorter dat a-way hisse’f, en he ax Brer 
Rabbit w’at make ’im change his min’ so quick. 

“‘Bless you, Brer Wolf, I had needs ter change it,’ sez Brer 
Rabbit, sezee. 

“Brer Wolf, he ax ’im how come. 

All about bein’ burnt up in a holler log, Brer Wolf, en w’en 
you gits time I wish you be so good ez ter bu’n me up some mo’,’ 
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“Brer Wolf, he ax ’im how so. Brer Rabbit say: — 

“‘I’m fear’d ter tell you, Brer Wolf, ’kaze I don’t want de news 
ter git out.’ 

“Brer Wolf vow he won’t tell nobody on de top side er de worl’. 
Brer Rabbit say: — 

“‘I done fin’ out, Brer Wolf, dat w’en you git in a holler tree 
en somebody sets it a-fier, dat de nat’al honey des oozles out uv it, 
en mor’n dat, atter you git de honey all over you, ’t ain’t no use 
ter try ter burn you up, ’kaze de honey will puzzuv you. Don’t 
’ny me dis favor, Brer Wolf, ’kaze I done pick me out a n’er 
holler tree,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“Brer Wolf, he wan ter put right out den en dar, en Brer Rab¬ 
bit say dat des de kinder man w’at he bin huntin’ fer. Dey took 
deyse’f off en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ dey came ter de tree w’at Brer 
Rabbit say he done pick out. W’en dey git dar, Brer Wolf, he so 
greedy fer ter git a tas’e er de honey dat he beg en beg Brer Rab¬ 
bit fer ter let ’im git in de holler. Brer Rabbit, he hoi’ back, but 
Brer Wolf beg so hard dat Brer Rabbit ’gree ter let ’im git in de 
holler. 


255 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Brer Wolf, he got in, he did, en Brer Rabbit stuff de hole full 
er dry leaves en trash, en den he got ’im a chunk er fier en totch 
’er off. She smoked en smoked, en den she bust out in a blaze. 
Brer Rabbit, he pile up rocks, en brush, en sticks, so Brer Wolf 
can’t git out. Terreckly Brer Wolf holler: — 

“‘Gittin’ mighty hot, Brer Rabbit! I ain’t see no honey yit/ 

“Brer Rabbit he pile on mo’ trash, en holler back: — 

“‘Don’t be in no hurry, Brer Wolf; you’ll see it en tas’e it 
too.’ 

“Fier burn en burn, wood pop like pistol. Brer Wolf, he holler: 

“‘Gittin’ hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit. No honey come yit.’ 

“‘Hoi’ still, Brer Wolf, hit’ll come.’ 

“‘Gimme a’r, Brer Rabbit; I’m a-chokin’.’ 

“‘Fresh a’r make honey sour. Des hoi’ still, Brer Wolf!’ 

“‘ Ow! she gittin’ hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit!’ 

“‘Des hoi’ right still, Brer Wolf; mos’ time fer de honey!’ 

“‘Ow! ow! I’m a-burnin’, Brer Rabbit!’ 

“‘Wait fer de honey, Brer Wolf.’ 

“‘I can’t stan’ it, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘Stan’ it like I did, Brer Wolf.’ 

“Brer Rabbit he pile on de trash en de leaves. He say: — 

‘“I’ll gin you honey, Brer Wolf; de same kinder honey you 
wanted ter gimme.’ 

“En it seem like ter me,” said Aunt Tempy, pleased at the 
interest the little boy had shown, “dat it done Brer Wolf des 
right.” 


LII 

BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN 

The little boy had heard Uncle Remus lamenting that his candle 
was getting rather short, and he made it his business to go around 
the house and gather all the pieces he could find. He carried these 

256 



BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN 

to the old man, who received them with the liveliest satisfac- 
tion. 

“Now dish yer sorter look lak sump’n’, honey. W’en ole Brer 
Jack come back, en Sis Tempy git in de habits er hangin’ ’roun’, 
we’ll des light some er dese yer, en folks ’ll come by en see de 
shine, en dey’ll go off en ’low dat hit’s de night des ’fo’ camp- 
meetin’ at ole Remus house. 

I got little piece dar in my chist w’at you brung me long time 
ergo, en I ’low ter myse’f dat ef shove ever git ter be push , 1 I’d 
des draw ’er out en light ’er up.” 

Mamma says Daddy Jack is coming back Sunday,” said the 
little boy. 

“Dat w’at I year talk,” replied the old man. 

“What did he go off for, Uncle Remus?” 

“Bless yo’ soul, honey! Brer Jack bleedz ter go en see yo’ 
Unk Jeems. He b’leeve de worl’ go wrong ef he ain’t do dat. Dat 
ole nigger b’leeve he white mon. He come up yer fum down de 
country whar de Lord done fersook um too long ’go ter talk 
’bout, — he come up yer en he put on mo’ a’rs dan w’at I dast 
ter do. Not dat I’m keerin’, ’kaze goodness knows I ain’t, yit I 
notices dat w’en I has ter go some’rs, dey’s allers a great ter-do 
’bout w’at is I’m a-gwine fer, en how long is I’m a-gwine ter 
stay; en ef I ain’t back at de ve’y minit, dars Mars John a-growl- 
in’, en Miss Sally a-vowin’ dat she gwine ter put me on de 
block.” 2 

Perhaps Uncle Remus’s jealousy was more substantial than he 
was willing to admit; but he was talking merely to see what the 
little boy would say. The child, however, failed to appreciate the 
situation, seeing which the old man quickly changed the subject. 

“Times is mighty diffunt fum w’at dey use ter wuz, ’kaze de 

1 A plantation saying. It means if hard times get harder. A briefer form is “w’en 
shove ’come push” — when the worst comes to the worst. 

2 That is to say, put him on the block, and sell him. 

257 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

time has bin dat ef ole Brer Rabbit had er run’d up wid Brer Jack 
w’iles he cornin’ fum yo’ Unk Jeems place, he’d outdone ’im des 
ez sho’ ez de worl’ stan’s. Deze days de Rabbits has ter keep out 
de way er folks, but in dem days folks had ter keep out der way 
er ole Brer Rabbit. Ain’t I never tell you ’bout how Brer Rabbit 
whirl in en outdo Mr. Man?” 

“About the meat tied to the string, Uncle Remus?” 

“ Shoo! Dat ain’t a drap in de bucket, honey. Dish yer wuz de 
time w’en ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine ’long de big road, en he 
meet Mr. Man drivin’ ’long wid a waggin chock full er money.” 

“Where did he get so much money, Uncle Remus?” 

“Bruisin’ ’round en peddlin’ ’bout. Mr. Man got w’at lots 
er folks ain’t got, — good luck, long head, quick eye, en slick 
fingers. But no marter ’bout dat, he got de money; en w’en you 
sorter grow up so you kin knock ’roun’, ’t won’t be long ’fo’ some 
un ’ll take en take you off ’roun’ de cornder en tell you dat’t ain’t 
make no diffunce whar de money come fum so de man got it. 
Dey won’t tell you dat in de meeting-house, but dey’ll come 
mighty nigh it. 

“But dat ain’t needer yer ner dar. Mr. Man, he come 
a-drivin’ ’long de big road, en he got a waggin full er money. 
Brer Rabbit, he come a-lippity-clippitin’ ’long de big road, en he 
ain’t got no waggin full er money. Ole Brer Rabbit, he up’n tuck 
a notion dat dey’s sump’n’ wrong some’rs, ’kaze ef dey wa’n’t, 
he ’ud have des ez much waggin en money ez Mr. Man. He study, 
en study, en he can’t make out how dat is. Bimeby he up’n holler 
out: — 

“‘Mr. Man, please, sir, lemme ride.’ 

“Mr. Man, he tuck’n stop he waggin, en ’low: — 

“‘Heyo, Brer Rabbit! how come dis? You cornin’ one way en 
I gwine nudder; how come you wan ter ride?’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he up’n scratch hisse’f on de back er de neck wid 
he behime foot, en holler out: — 


258 


BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN 

“‘Mr. Man, yo’ sho’ly can’t be ’quainted ’long wid me. I’m 
one er dem ar ole-time kinder folks w’at ain’t a-keerin’ w’ich way 
deyer gwine long ez deyer ridin’.’” 

The little boy laughed a sympathetic laugh, showing that he 
heartily endorsed this feature of Brother Rabbit’s programme. 

“Atter so long a time,” Uncle Remus went on, “Mr. Man 
’gree ter let Brer Rabbit ride a little piece. He try ter git Brer 
Rabbit fer ter ride upon de seat wid ’im so dey kin git ter ’sputin’ 
’n’er, but Brer Rabbit say he fear’d he fall off, en he des tuck’n sot 
right flat down in de bottom er de waggin, en make lak he fear’d 
ter move. 

“Bimeby, w’iles dey goin’ down hill, en Mr. Man hatter keep 
he eye on de hosses, Brer Rabbit he tuck’n fling out a great big 
hunk er de money. Dez ez de money hit de groun’ Brer Rabbit 
holler out: — 

“ ( 0w! 9 

“Mr. Man look ’roun’ en ax w’at de marter. Brer Rabbit 
’low: — 

“‘Nothin’’t all, Mr. Man, ’ceppin’ you ’bout ter jolt my jaw¬ 
bone a-loose.’ 

“Dey go on little furder, en Brer Rabbit fling out ’n’er hunk 
er de money. W’en she hit de groun’, Brer Rabbit holler: — 

“‘ Blam! 9 

“Mr. Man look ’roun’ en ax w’at de marter. Brer Rabbit 
’low: — 

“‘Nothin’’t all, Mr. Man, ’ceppin’ I seed a jaybird flyin’ ’long, 
en I make lak I had a gun.’ 

“ Hit keep on dis a-way twel fus’ news you know Mr. Man ain’t 
got a sign er money in dat waggin. Seem lak Mr. Man ain’t 
notice dis twel he git a mighty fur ways fum de place whar Brer 
Rabbit drap out de las’ hunk; but, gentermens! w’en he do fine it 
out, you better b’leeve he sot up a howl. 

“‘Whar my money? Whar my nice money? Whar my waggin 
259 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

full er purty money? O you long-year’d rascal! Whar my money? 
Oh, gimme my money!’ 

“Brer Rabbit sot dar en lissen at ’im lak he ’stonish’d. Den he 
up’n ’low: — 

“‘Look out, Mr. Man! folks ’ll come ’long en year you gwine 
on dat a-way, en dey’ll go off en say you done gone ravin’ 
’stracted.’ 

“ Yit Mr. Man keep on holler’n en beggin’ Brer Rabbit fer ter 
gin ’im de money, en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he git sorter skeer’d en 
he up’n ’low: — 

“‘Sun gittin’ low, Mr. Man, en I better be gittin’ ’way fum 
yer. De sooner I goes de better, ’kaze ef you keep on lak you 
gwine, ’t won’t be long ’fo’ you ’ll be excusin’ me er takin’ dat ar 
money. I’m ’blige’ fer de ride, Mr. Man, en I wish you mighty 
well.’ 

“Brer Rabbit got de money,” continued Uncle Remus, gazing 
placidly into the fire, “en hit’s mighty kuse ter me dat he ain’t 
git de waggin en hosses. Dat’t is!” 


LIII 

BRER RABBIT TAKES A WALK 

“Eve’y time I run over in my min’ ’bout the pranks er Brer Rab¬ 
bit,” Uncle Remus continued, without giving the little boy time 
to ask any more embarrassing questions about Mr. Man and his 
wagon full of money, “hit make me laugh mo’ en mo’. He mos’ 
allers come out on top, yit dey wuz times w’en he hatter be 
mighty spry.” 

“When was that. Uncle Remus?” inquired the little boy. 

“I min’ me er one time w’en de t’er creeturs all git de laugh 
on ’im,” responded the old man, “en dey make ’im feel sorter 
’shame’. Hit seem lak dat dey ’uz some kinder bodderment 

260 


BRER RABBIT TAKES A WALK 


’mungs’ de creeturs en wud went out dat dey all got ter meet 
terge’er some’rs en ontangle de tanglements. 

“W’en de time come, dey wuz all un um dar, en dey hilt der 
confab right ’long. All un um got sump’n’ ter say, en dey talk 
dar, dey did, des lak dey ’uz paid fer talkin’. Dey all had der 
plans, en dey jabbered des lak folks does w’en dey call deyse’f 
terge’er. Hit come ’bout dat Mr. Dog git a seat right close by 
Brer Rabbit, en w’en he open he mouf fer ter say sump’n’, he 
toofs look so long en so strong, en dey shine so w’ite, dat it feel 
mighty' kuse. 

“ Mr. Dog, he’d say sump’n’, Brer Rabbit, he’d jump en dodge. 
Mr. Dog, he’d laugh, Brer Rabbit, he’d dodge en jump. Hit keep 
on dis a-way, twel eve’y time Brer Rabbit’d dodge en jump, de 
t’er creeturs dey’d slap der han’s terge’er en break out in a laugh. 
Mr. Dog, he tuck’n tuck a notion dat dey ’uz laughin’ at him, en 
dis make ’im so mad dat he ’gun ter growl en snap right smartu- 
ally, en it come ter dat pass dat w’en Brer Rabbit ’d see Mr. 
Dog make a motion fer ter say a speech, he’d des drap down 
en git und’ de cheer. 

“Co’se dis make um laugh wuss en wuss, en de mo’ dey laugh 
de madder it make Mr. Dog, twel bimeby he git so mad he fa’rly 
howl, en Brer Rabbit he sot dar, he did, en shuck lak he got er 
ager. 

“Atter w’ile Brer Rabbit git sorter on t’er side, en he make a 
speech en say dey oughter be a law fer ter make all de creeturs 
w’at got tushes ketch en eat der vittles wid der claws. All un 
um ’gree ter dis ’cep’ hit’s Mr. Dog, Brer Wolf, en Brer Fox. 

“In dem days,” continued Uncle Remus, “ef all de creeturs 
ain’t ’gree, dey put it off twel de nex’ meetin’ en talk it over some 
mo’, en dat’s de way dey done wid Brer Rabbit projick. Dey put 
it off twel de nex’ time. 

“Brer Rabbit got a kinder sneakin’ notion dat de creeturs 
ain’t gwine do lak he want um ter do, en he ’low ter Brer Wolf dat 

261 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


he ’speck de bes’ way fer ter do is ter git all de creeturs ter ’gree 
fer ter have Mr. Dog mouf sew’d up, ’kaze he toofs look so ven¬ 
omous; en Brer Wolf say dey ull all go in fer dat. 

“Sho’ ’nuff, w’en de day done come, Brer Rabbit he git up en 
say dat de bes’ way ter do is have Mr. Dog mouf sew’d up so he 
toofs won’t look so venomous. Dey all ’gree, en den Mr. Lion, 
settin’ up in de arm-cheer, he ax who gwine do de sewin’. 

“Den dey all up’n ’low dat de man w’at want de sewin’ done, 
he de man fer ter do it, ’kaze den he ull know it done bin done 
right. Brer Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he ’low: — 

“T ain’t got no needle.’ 

“Brer B’ar, he sorter feel in de flap er he coat collar, en he 
’low: — 

“‘Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great big one!’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he sorter study ’g’in, en den he ’low: — 

“T ain’t got no th’ead.’ 

“Brer B’ar, he tuck’n pull a rav’lin’ fum de bottom er he 
wescut, en he ’low: — 

“‘Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great long one!’ 

“Ef it had er bin anybody in de roun’ worl’ he’d er ’gun ter 
feel sorter ticklish,” Uncle Remus went on. “But ole Brer Rab¬ 
bit, he des tuck’n lay he finger ’cross he nose, en ’low: — 

“‘Des hoi’ um dar fer me, Brer B’ar, en I ’ll be much ’blige ter 
you. Hit’s des ’bout my time er day fer ter take a walk! ”’ 

Uncle Remus laughed as heartily as the child, and added: — 
“Some folks say de creeturs had de grins on Brer Rabbit 
’bout dat time; but I tell you right pine-blank dey ain’t grin 
much w’en dey year Brer Rabbit say dat.” 


262 


OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF 


LIV 

OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF 

At last Daddy Jack returned, and the fact that the little boy 
had missed him and inquired about him, seemed to give the old 
African particular pleasure. It was probably a new experience to 
Daddy Jack, and it vaguely stirred some dim instinct in his bosom 
that impelled him to greet the child with more genuine heartiness 
than he had ever displayed in all his life. He drew the little boy 
up to him, patted him gently on the cheek, and exclaimed: — 

“Ki! I bin want fer see you bery bahd. I bin-a tell you’ nunk 
Jeem’ how fine noung man you is. ’E ahx wey you no come fer 
shum. Fine b’y — fine b’y!” 

“Well, ef dat’s de way youer gwine on, Brer Jack, you’ll spile 
dat chap sho’. A whole sack er salt won’t save ’im.” 

“I dunno ’bout dat, Brer Remus,” said Aunt Tempy, who had 
come in. “Don’t seem like he bad like some yuther childun w’at 
I seen. Bless you, I know childun w’at’d keep dish yer whole 
place tarryfied — dat dey would!” 

“Well, sir,” said Uncle Remus, shaking his head and groan¬ 
ing, “you all ain’t wid dat young un dar much ez I is. Some days 
w’en dey ain’t nobody lookin’, en dey ain t nobody nowhar fer 
ter take keer un me, dat ar little chap dar 11 come down yer en 
chunk me wid rocks, en ’buze me en holler at me scan lous. 

The little boy looked so shocked that Uncle Remus broke into 
a laugh that shook the cobwebs in the corners; then, suddenly 
relapsing into seriousness, he drew himself up with dignity and 
remarked: — 

“Good er bad, you can’t git ’long wid ’im less’n you sets in ter 
tellin’ tales, en. Brer Jack, I hope you got some ’long wid you.” 

Daddy Jack rubbed his hands together, and said: ,,, 

“Me bin yeddy one tale; ’e mekky me lahff tel I is ’come tire’. 

263 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Fer de Lord sake less have it den!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, 
with unction. Whereupon, the small but appreciative audience 
disposed itself comfortably, and Daddy Jack, peering at each one 
in turn, his eyes shining between his half-closed lids as brightly as 
those of some wild animal, began: — 

“One tarn B’er Rabbit is bin traffel ’roun’ fer see ’e neighbor 
folks. ’E bin mahd wit’ B’er Wolf fer so long tarn; ’e mek no 
diffran, ’e come pas’ ’e house ’e no see nuttin’, ’e no yeddy nuttin’. 
’E holler: — 

“‘Hi, B’er Wolf! wey you no fer mek answer wun me ahx you 
howdy? Wey fer you is do dis ’fo’ me werry face? Wut mekky 
you do dis?’ 

“’E wait, ’e lissun; nuttin’ no mek answer. B’er Rabbit, ’e 
holler: — 

“‘Come-a show you’se’f, B’er Wolf! Come-a show you’se’f. Be 
’shame’ fer not show you’se’f wun you’ ’quaintun’ come bisitin’ 
wey you lif!’ 

“Nuttin’ ’t all no mek answer, un B’er Rabbit ’come berry 
mahd, ’E ’come so mahd ’e stomp ’e fut un bump ’e head ’pon 
da fence-side. Bumbye ’e tek heart, ’e y-opun da do’, ’e is look 
inside da house. Fier bu’n in da chimbly, pot set ’pon da fier, ole 
ooman sed by da pot. Fier bu’n, pot, ’e bile, ole ooman, ’e tek ’e 
nap. 

“Da ole ooman, ’e ole Granny Wolf; ’e cripple in ’e leg, ’e bline 
in e y-eye, ’e mos’ deaf in ’e year. ’E deaf, but ’e bin yeddy B’er 
Rabbit mek fuss at da do’, un ’e is cry out: — 

Come-a see you’ ole Granny, me gran’son — come-a see you’ 
Granny! Da fier is bin bu’n, da pot is bin b’ile; come-a fix you’ 
Granny some bittle, 1 me gran’son.’” 

Daddy Jack’s representation of the speech and action of an 
old woman was worth seeing and hearing. The little boy laughed, 
and Uncle Remus smiled good-humoredly; but A un t Tempy 
1 Victuals. 

264 


OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF 


looked at the old African with open-mouthed astonishment. 
Daddy Jack, however, cared nothing for any effect he might 
produce. He told the story for the story’s sake, and he made 
no pause for the purpose of gauging the appreciation of his 
audience. 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e is bin mek ’ese’f comfuts by da fier. Bumbye, 
’e holler: — 

“‘Hi, Granny! I bin cripple mese’f; me y-eye bin-a come bline. 
You mus’ bile-a me in da water, Granny, so me leg is kin come 
well, en so me y-eye kin come see.’ 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e mighty ha’d fer fool. ’E bin tek ’im one chunk 
woot, ’e drap da woot in da pot. ’E bin say: — 

“‘I is bin feelin’ well, me Granny. Me leg, ’e cornin’ strong, me 
y-eye ’e fix fer see.’ 

“Granny Wolf, ’e shek ’e head; ’e cry: — 

“‘Me one leg cripple, me turrer leg cripple; me one eye bline, 
me turrer y-eye bline. Wey you no fer pit me in da pot fer mek 
me well?’ 

“B’er Rabbit laff in ’e belly; ’e say: — 

“‘Hoi’ you’se’f still, me Granny; I fix you one place in da pot 
wey you is kin fetch-a back da strenk in you’ leg en da sight in 
you’ eye. HoP still, me Granny!’ 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e is bin tekky da chunk y-out da pot; ’e tekky 
da chunk, en ’e is bin pit Granny Wolf in dey place. ’E tetch da 
water, ’e holler: — 

“‘Ow! tekky me way fum dis!’ 

“B’er Rabbit say ’tiss not da soon ’nuff tarn. Granny Wolf, ’e 
holler: — 

“‘Ow! tekky me way fum dis! ’E bin too hot!’ 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e no tekky da Mammy Wolf fum da pot, en 
bumbye ’e die in dey. B’er Rabbit ’e tek ’e bone en t’row urn 
’way; ’e leaf da meat. ’E tek Granny Wolf frock, ’e tu n um 
’roun’, ’e pit um on; ’e tek Granny Wolf cap, ’e tu’n ’roun , e 

265 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

pit um on. ’E sed deer by da fier, ’e hoP ’e’se’f in ’e cheer sem lak 
Granny Wolf. 

“Bumbye B’er Wolf is bin-a come back. ’E walk in ’e house, 
’e say: — 

“‘Me honkry, Grinny-Granny! Me honkry, fer true!’ 

“‘You’ dinner ready, Grin’son-Gran’son ! 9 

“B’er Wolf, ’e look in da pot, ’e smell in da pot, ’e stir in da 
pot. ’E eat ’e dinner, ’e smack ’e mout’.” 

The little boy shuddered, and Aunt Tempy exclaimed, “In de 
name er de Lord!” The old African paid no attention to either. 

“B’er Wolf eat ’e dinner; ’e call ’e chilluns, ’e ahx um is dey 
no want nuttin’ ’t all fer eat. ’E holler back: — 

“‘We no kin eat we Grinny-Granny!’ 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e run ’way fum dey-dey; ’e holler back: — 

“‘B’er Wolf, you is bin eat you’ Grinny-Granny.’ 

“B’er Wolf bin-a git so mad ’e yent mos’ kin see. ’E yeddy 
B’er Rabbit holler, en ’e try fer ketch um. ’E feer teer up da grass 
wey ’e run ’long. Bumbye ’e come ’pon B’er Rabbit. ’E is bin 
push um ha’d. B’er Rabbit run un-a run tel ’e yent kin run no 
mo’; ’e hide ’neat’ leanin’ tree. B’er Wolf, ’e fine um; B’er Rab¬ 
bit ’e holler: — 

“‘Hi! B’er Wolf! mek ’as’e come hoi’ up da tree, ’fo’ ’e is fall 
dey-dey; come-a hoP um, B’er Wolf, so I is kin prop um up.’ 

“B’er Wolf, ’e hoP up da tree fer B’er Rabbit; ’e hoP um till ’e 
do come tire’. B’er Rabbit gone!” 

Daddy Jack paused. His story was ended. The little boy drew 
a long breath and said: — 

“I did n’t think Brother Rabbit would burn anybody to death 
in a pot of boiling water.” 

“Dat,” said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, “wuz endurin’ er de 
dog days. Dey er mighty worn times, mon, dem ar dog days 
is.” 

This was intended to satisfy such scruples as the child might 
266 


HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT 

have, and it was no doubt successful, for the youngster said no 
more, but watched Uncle Remus as the latter leisurely proceeded 
to fill his pipe. 


LV 

HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT 

Uncle Remus chipped the tobacco from the end of a plug, rubbed 
it between the palms of his hands, placed it in his pipe, dipped the 
pipe in the glowing embers, and leaned back in his chair, and 
seemed to be completely happy. 

“Hit mought not er bin endurin’ er de dog days,” said the old 
man, recurring to Daddy Jack’s story, “’kaze dey wuz times dat 
w’en dey push ole Brer Rabbit so close he ’uz des bleedz ter git 
he revengeance out’n um. Dat mought er bin de marter ’twix’ 
him en ole Grinny-Granny Wolf, ’kaze w’en ole Brer Rabbit git 
he dander up, he ’uz a monst’us bad man fer ter fool wid. 

“Dey tuck atter ’im,” continued Uncle Remus, “en dey ’buzed 
’im, en dey tried ter ’stroy ’im, but dey wuz times w’en de t’er 
creeturs bleedz ter call on ’im fer ter he p em out dey trouble. I 
ain’t nev’ tell you ’bout little Wattle Weasel, is I?” asked the 
old man, suddenly turning to the little boy. 

The child laughed. The dogs on the plantation had killed a 
weasel a few nights before, — a very cunning-looking little ani¬ 
mal, — and some of the negroes had sent it to the big house as a 
curiosity. He connected this fact with Uncle Remus’s allusions 
to the weasel. Before he could make any reply, however, the 

old man went on: — _ 

“No, I boun’ I ain’t, en it come ’cross me right fresh en hot 
time I year talk er Brer Wolf eatin’ he granny. Dey wuz one 
time w’en all de creeturs wuz livin’ in de same settlement en 
usin’ out’n de same spring, en it got so dat dey put all dey butter 
in de same piggin’. Dey put it in dar, dey did, en dey put it in de 

267 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

spring-house, en dey’d go off en ’ten 5 ter dey business. Den w’en 
dey come back dey’d fine whar some un been nibblin’ at dey but* 
ter. Dey tuck’n hide dat butter all ’roun’ in de spring-house; dey 
sot it on de rafters, en dey bury it in de san’; yit all de same de 
butter ’ud come up missin’. 

“Bimeby it got so dey dunner w’at ter do; dey zamin’ de tracks, 
en dey fine out dat de man w’at nibble dey butter is little Wattle 
Weasel. He come in de night, he come in de day; dey can’t 
ketch ’im. Las’ de creeturs tuck’n helt er confab, en dey ’gree dat 
dey hatter set some un fer ter watch en ketch Wattle Weasel. 

“Brer Mink wuz de fus’ man ’p’inted, ’kaze he wa’n’t mo’n 
a half a han ’ 1 no way you kin fix it. De t’er creeturs dey tuck’n 
went off ter dey wuk, en Brer Mink he tuck’n sot up wid de 
butter. He watch en he lissen, he lissen en he watch; he ain’t see 
nothin’, he ain’t year nothin’. Yit he watch, ’kaze der t’er creeturs 
done fix up a law dat ef Wattle Weasel come w’iles somebody 
watchin’ en git off bidout gittin’ kotch, de man w’at watchin’ 
ain’t kin eat no mo’ butter endurin’ er dat year. 

“Brer Mink, he watch en he wait. He set so still dat bimeby 
he git de cramps in de legs, en des ’bout dat time little Wattle 
Weasel pop he head und’ de do’. He see Brer Mink, en he hail 
’im: — 

“‘Heyo, Brer Mink! you look sorter lonesome in dar. Come 
out yer en less take a game er hidin’-switch.’ 

“Brer Mink, he wanter have some fun, he did, en he tuck’n 
jine Wattle Weasel in de game. Dey play en dey play twel, 
bimeby, Brer Mink git so wo’ out dat he ain’t kin run, skacely, 
en des soon ez dey sets down ter res’, Brer Mink, he draps off ter 
sleep. Little Wattle Weasel, so mighty big en fine, he goes en 
nibbles up de butter, en pops out de way he come in. 

“De creeturs, dey come back, dey did, en dey fine de butter 
nibbled, en Wattle Weasel gone. Wid dat, dey marks Brer Mink 

1 That is, could do no more than half the work of a man. 

268 



HE SORTER HUNCH BRER POSSUM IN DE SHORT RIBS, EN AX TM HOW HE COME ON 












































































. 

















r 





















HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT 

down, en he ain’t kin eat no mo’ butter dat year. Den dey fix 
up ’n’er choosement en ’p’int Brer Possum fer ter watch de butter. 

“Brer Possum, he grin en watch, and bimeby,sho’ ’nuff, in pop 
little Wattle Weasel. He come in, he did, en he sorter hunch Brer 
Possum in de short ribs, en ax ’im how he come on. Brer Possum 
mighty ticklish, en time Wattle Weasel totch ’im in de short ribs, 
he ’gun ter laugh. Wattle Weasel totch ’im ag’in en laugh wusser, 
en he keep on hunchin’ ’im dat a-way twel bimeby Brer Possum 
laugh hisse’f plum outer win’, en Wattle Weasel lef’ ’im dar en 
nibble up de butter. 

“De creeturs, dey tuck’n mark Brer Possum down, en ’p’int 
Brer Coon. Brer Coon, he tuck’n start in all so mighty fine; but 
w’iles he settin’ dar, little Wattle Weasel banter ’im fer a race up 
de branch. No sooner say dan yer dey went! Brer Coon, he foller 
de tu’ns er de branch, en little Wattle Weasel he take’n take nigh 
cuts, en’t wa’n’t no time ’fo’ he done run Brer Coon plum down. 
Den dey run down de branch, and ’fo’ Brer Coon kin ketch up wid 
’im, dat little Wattle Weasel done got back ter de noggin er 
butter, en nibble it up. 

“Den de creeturs tuck’n mark Brer Coon down, dey did, en 
’p’int Brer Fox fer ter watch de butter. Wattle Weasel sorter 
’fear’d ’er Brer Fox. He study long time, en den he wait twel 
night. Den he tuck’n went ’roun’ in de ole fiel’ en woke up de 
Killdees 1 en druv ’roun’ todes de spring-house. Brer Fox year 
um holler, en it make he mouf water. Bimeby, he ’low ter hisse’f 
dat’t ain’t no harm ef he go out en slip up on one.” 

“Dar now!” said Aunt Tempy. 

“Brer Fox tuck’n slip out, en Wattle Weasel he slicked in, 
en bless yo’ soul! dar goes de butter!” 

“Enty!” exclaimed Daddy Jack. 

“Brer Fox he git marked down,” continued Uncle Remus, “en 
den de creeturs tuck’n ’p’int Brer Wolf fer ter be dey watcher. 

1 Killdeers — a species of plover. 

269 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


Brer Wolf, he sot up dar, he did, en sorter nod, but bimeby he 
year some un talkin’ outside de spring-house. He h’ist up he 
years en lissen. Look lak some er de creeturs wuz gwine by, 
en talkin’ ’mungs’ deysef’; but all Brer Wolf kin year is dish 
yer: — 

“‘I wonder who put dat ar young sheep down dar by de chin¬ 
kapin tree, en I like ter know wharbouts Brer Wolf is.’ 

“Den it seem lak dey pass on, en ole Brer Wolf, he fergotted 
w’at he in dar fer, en he dash down ter de chinkapin tree, fer ter 
git de young sheep. But no sheep dar, en w’en he git back, he see 
signs whar Wattle Weasel done bin in dar en nibble de butter. 

“Den de creeturs tuck’n mark Brer Wolf down, en ’p’int Brer 
B’ar fer ter keep he eye ’pun de noggin er butter. Brer B’ar he 
tuck’n sot up dar, he did, en lick he paw, en feel good. Bimeby 
Wattle Weasel come dancin’ in. He ’low : — 

“‘Heyo, Brer B’ar, how you come on? I ’low’d I yeard you 
snortin’ in yer, en I des drapt in fer ter see.’ 

“Brer B’ar tell him howdy, but he sorter keep one eye on ’im. 
Little Wattle Weasel ’low: — 

“‘En you got ticks on yo’ back, Brer B’ar?’ 

“ Wid dat W T attle Weasel ’gun ter rub Brer B’ar on de back en 
scratch ’im on de sides, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he ’uz stretch out 
fast asleep en sno’in’ lak a saw-mill. Co’se Wattle Weasel git de 
butter. Brer B’ar he got marked down, and den de creeturs ain’t 
know w’at dey gwine do skacely. 

“Some say sen’ fer Brer Rabbit, some say sen’ fer Brer Tarry- 
pin; but las’ dey sent fer Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit, he tuck a 
notion dat dey ’uz fixin’ up some kinder trick on ’im, en dey 
hatter beg mightily, mon, ’fo’ he ’ud come en set up ’longside er 
dey butter. 

“But bimeby he ’greed, en he went down ter de spring-house 
en look ’roun’. Den he tuck’n got ’im a twine string, en hide 
hisse’f whar he kin keep he eye on de noggin er butter. He ain’t 

270 


HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT 

wait long ’fo’ yer come Wattle Weasel. Des ez he ’bout ter nib¬ 
ble at de butter, Brer Rabbit holler out: — 

“‘Let dat butter ’lone!’ 

“Wattle Weasel jump back lak de butter bu’nt ’im. He jump 
back, he did, en say: — 

“‘Sho’ly dat mus’ be Brer Rabbit!’ 

“‘De same. I’low’d you’d know me. Des let dat butter’lone.’ 

“‘Des lemme git one little bit er tas’e, Brer Rabbit.’ 

“‘Des let dat butter ’lone.’ 

“Den Wattle Weasel say he want er run a race. Brer Rabbit 
’low he tired. Wattle Weasel ’low he want er play hidin’. Brer 
Rabbit ’low dat all he hidin’ days is pas’ en gone. Wattle Weasel 
banter’d en banter’d ’im, en bimeby Brer Rabbit come up wid a 
banter er he own. 

“‘I’ll take’n tie yo’ tail,’ sezee, ‘en you’ll take’n tie mine, en 
den we’ll see w’ich tail de strongest. Little Wattle TV easel know 
how weakly Brer Rabbit tail is, but he ain t know how strong 
Brer Rabbit bin wid he tricks. So dey tuck’n tie der tails wid Brer 
Rabbit twine string. 

“Wattle Weasel wuz ter stan’ inside en Brer Rabbit wuz ter 
stan’ outside, en dey wuz ter pull ’gin’ one er n’er wid dey tails. 
Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n slip out’n de string, en tie de een’ ’roun’ 
a tree root, en den he went en peep at Wattle Weasel tuggin en 
pullin’. Bimeby Wattle Weasel’low: — 

‘“Come en on tie me, Brer Rabbit, ’kaze you done outpull me. 

“Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en chaw he cud, en look lak he 
feel sorry ’bout sump’n’. Bimeby all de creeturs come fer ter see 
’bout dey butter, ’kaze dey fear’d Brer Rabbit done make way 
wid it Yit w’en dey see little Wattle Weasel tie by de tail, dey 
make great ’miration ’bout Brer Rabbit, en dey ’low he de smart- 
est one er de whole gang.” 


271 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


LVI 

BRER RABBIT TIES MR. LION 

There was some comment and some questions were asked by 
the little boy in regard to Wattle Weasel and the other animals; 
to all of which Uncle Remus made characteristic response. Aunt 
Tempy sat with one elbow on her knee, her head resting in the 
palm of her fat hand. She gazed intently into the fire, and 
seemed to be lost in thought. Presently she exclaimed: — 

“Well, de Lord he’p my soul!” 

“Dat’s de promise, Sis Tempy,” said Uncle Remus, sol¬ 
emnly. 

Aunt Tempy laughed, as she straightened herself in her chair, 
and said: — 

“I des knowed dey wuz sump’n’ ’n’er gwine ’cross my min’ 
w’en I year talk ’bout dat ar sheep by de chinkapin tree.” 

“Out wid it, Sis Tempy,” said Uncle Remus, by way of en¬ 
couragement; “out wid it; free yo’ min’, en des make yo’se’f 
welcome.” 

“No longer’n Sunday ’fo’ las’, I ’uz ’cross dar at de Spivey 
place en I tuck’n year’d a nigger man tellin’ de same tale, en I 
’low ter myse’f dat I’d take’n take it en kyar’ it home en gin it 
out w’en I come ter pass de time wid Brer Remus en all uv um. 
I ’low ter myse’f I ’ll take it en kyar’ it dar, en I ’ll des tell it 
my own way.” 

“Well, den,” said Uncle Remus, approvingly, “me en dish yer 
chap, we er willin’ en a-waitin’, en ez fer Brer Jack over dar, we 
kin say de same fer him, ’kaze I up en year ’im draw mighty long 
breff des now lak he fixin’ fer ter snort. But you neenter min’ dat 
ole creetur, Sis Tempy. Des push right ahead.” 

“Ah-h-h-e-e!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, snapping his bright 
little eyes at Uncle Remus with some display of irritation; “you 

272 


BRER RABBIT TIES MR. LION 

tek-a me fer be sleep ebry tam I shed-a me y-eye, you is mek 
fool-a you’se’f. Warrah yarrah garrah tarrah!” 1 

Brer Remus !” said Aunt Tempy, in an awed whisper, “may¬ 
be he’s a-cunju’n un you.” 

“No-no!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, snappishly, “me no cun- 
cher no’n’ ’t all. Wun me cuncher you all you yeddy bone 
crack. Enty!” 

“Well, in de name er de Lord, don’t come a-cunju’n wid me, 
’kaze I’m des as peaceable ez de day’s long,” said Aunt 
Tempy. 

Uncle Remus smiled and closed his eyes with an air of disdain, 
caught from his old Mistress, the little boy’s grandmother, long 
since dead. 

“Tell yo’ tale, Sis Tempy,” he said pleasantly, “en leave de 
talk er cunju’n ter de little nigger childun. We er done got too 
ole fer dat kinder foolishness.” 

This was for the ear of the little boy. In his heart Uncle 
Remus was convinced that Daddy Jack was capable of changing 
himself into the blackest of black cats, with swollen tail, arched 
back, fiery eyes, and protruding fangs. But the old man’s attitude 
reassured Aunt Tempy, as well as the child, and forthwith she 
proceeded with her story: — 

“Hit seem like dat one time w’en Brer Rabbit fine hisse’f way 
off in de middle er de woods, de win’ strike up un ’gun ter blow. 
Hit blow down on de groun’ en it blow up in de top er de timber, 
en it blow so hard twel terreckerly Brer Rabbit tuck a notion dat 
he better git out fum dar ’fo’ de timber ’gun ter fall. 

“Brer Rabbit, he broke en run, en, Man — Sir ! 2 w’en dat 
creetur run’d he run’d, now you year w’at I tell yer! He broke 
en run, he did, en he fa’rly flew ’way fum dar. W’iles he gwine 

* 1 This is simply “gullah” Degro talk intended to be unintelligible, and therefore im¬ 
pressive. It means “One or the other is as good as t’other.” 

* An expression used to give emphasis and to attract attention; used in the sense that 
Uncle Remus uses “Gentermens!” 


273 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

’long full tilt, he run’d ag’in’ ole Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he hail 
’im: — 

“‘Heyo, Brer Rabbit! W’at yo’ hurry?’ 

“‘Run, Mr. Lion, run! Dey’s a harry cane cornin’ back dar in 
de timbers. You better run!’ 

“Dis make Mr. Lion sorter skeer’d. He ’low: — 

“‘I mos’ too heavy fer ter run fur, Brer Rabbit. W’at I gwine 
do?’ 

“‘Lay down, Mr. Lion, lay down! Git close ter de groun’!’ 

“Mr. Lion shake his head. He ’low: — 

“‘Ef win’ lierbul fer ter pick up little man like you is, Brer 
Rabbit, w’at it gwine do wid big man like me?’ 

“‘Hug a tree, Mr. Lion, hug a tree!’ 

“Mr. Lion lash hisse’f wid his tail. He ’low: — 

“‘W’at I gwine do ef de win’ blow all day en a good part er de 
night, Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘Lemme tie you ter de tree, Mr. Lion! lemme tie you ter de 
tree!’ 

“Mr. Lion, he tuk’n ’gree ter dis, en Brer Rabbit, he got ’im a 
hick’ry split 1 en tie ’im hard en fast ter de tree. Den he tuck’n 
sot down, ole Brer Rabbit did, en wash his face en han’s des same 
ez you see de cats doin’. Terreckerly Mr. Lion git tired er stan’in’ 
dar huggin’ de tree, en he ax Brer Rabbit w’at de reason he ain’t 
keep on runnin’, en Brer Rabbit, he up’n ’low dat he gwine ter 
stay der en take keer Mr. Lion. 

“Terreckerly Mr. Lion say he ain’t year no harrycane. Brer 
Rabbit say he ain’t needer. Mr. Lion say he ain’t year no win’ 
a-blowin’. Brer Rabbit say he ain’t needer. Mr. Lion say he 
ain’t so much ez year a leaf a-stirrin’. Brer Rabbit say he ain’t 
needer. Mr. Lion sorter study, en Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, 
en wash his face en lick his paws. 

“Terreckerly Mr. Lion ax Brer Rabbit fer ter onloose ’im. 

1 Hickory withe. 

274 


MR. LION’S SAD PREDICAMENT 

Brer Rabbit say he fear’d. Den Mr. Lion git mighty mad, en he 
’gun ter beller wuss’n one er deze yer bull-yearlin’s. He beller 
so long en he beller so loud twel present’y de t’er creeturs dey 
’gun ter come up fer ter see w’at de matter. 

“Des soon ez dey come up, Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n ’gun ter 
talk biggity en strut ’roun’, en, Man — Sir! w’en dem yuthers 
see dat Brer Rabbit done got Mr. Lion tied up, I let you know 
dey tuck’n walked way ’roun’ ’im, en’t wuz many a long day ’fo’ 
dey tuck’n pestered ole Brer Rabbit.” 

Here Aunt Tempy paused. The little boy asked what Brother 
Rabbit tied Mr. Lion for; but she did n’t know; Uncle Remus, 
however, came to the rescue. 

“One time long ’fo’ dat, honey, Brer Rabbit went ter de branch 
fer ter git a drink er water, en ole Mr. Lion tuck’n druv ’im off, en 
fum dat time out Brer Rabbit bin huntin’ a chance fer ter ketch 
up wid ’im.” 

“Dat’s so,” said Aunt Tempy, and then she added: — 

“I ’clare I ain’t gwine tell you all not na’er n’er tale, dat I 
ain’t. ’Kaze you des set dar en you ain’t crack a smile fum de 
time I begin. Ef dat’d ’a’ bin Brer Remus, now, dey’d ’a ’ bin mo’ 
gigglin* gwine on dan you kin shake a stick at. I’m right down 
mad, dat I is.” 

“Well, I tell you dis, Sis Tempy,” said Uncle Remus, with 
unusual emphasis, “ef deze yer tales wuz des fun, fun, fun, en 
giggle, giggle, giggle, I let you know I’d a-done drapt um long 
ago. Yasser, w’en it come down ter gigglin’ you kin des count 
ole Remus out.” 


275 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


LVII 

MR. LION’S SAD PREDICAMENT 

The discussion over Aunt Tempy’s fragmentary story having ex¬ 
hausted itself, Daddy Jack turned up his coat collar until it was 
as high as the top of his head, and then tried to button it under 
his chin. If this attempt had been successful, the old African 
would have presented a diabolical appearance; but the coat re¬ 
fused to be buttoned in that style. After several attempts, which 
created no end of amusement for the little boy. Daddy Jack said: — 

“Da Lion, ’e no hab bin sma’t lak B’er Rabbit. ’E strong 
wit’ ’e fut, ’e strong wit’ ’e tush, but ’e no strong wit’ ’e head. 
’E bery foolish, ’cep’ ’e is bin hab chance ter jump ’pon dem 
creetur. 

“One tarn ’e bin come by B’er Rabbit in da road; ’e ahx um 
howdy; ’e ahx um wey ’e gwan. B’er Rabbit say ’e gwan git fum 
front de Buckra Man wut bin cornin’ ’long da road. B’er Rab¬ 
bit say: — 

“‘Hide you’se’f, B’er Lion; da Buckra ketch-a you fer true; 
’e is bin ketch-a you tarn he pit ’e y-eye ’pon you; ’e mekky you 
sick wit’ sorry. Hide fum da Buckra, B’er Lion!’ 

“Da Lion, ’e shekky ’e head; ’e say: — 

“‘Ki! Me no skeer da Buckra Man. I glad fer shum. I 
ketch um en I kyar um wey I lif; me hab da Buckra M&n fer me 
bittle. How come you bein’ skeer da Buckra Man, B’er Rabbit? * 

“B’er Rabbit look all ’bout fer see ef da Buckra bin cornin’. 
’E say: — 

“‘Me hab plenty reason, B’er Lion. Da Buckra Man shoot-a 
wit’ one gun. ’E r’ise um too ’e y-eye, ’e p’int um stret toze you; 
’e say bang I one tarn, ’e say bang! two tarn: dun you is bin git 
hu’t troo da head en cripple in da leg.’ 

“Lion, ’e shek ’e head; ’e say: — 

276 


MR. LION’S SAD PREDICAMENT 


“‘Me no skeer da Buckra Man. I grab-a da gun. I ketch um 
fer me brekwus.’ 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e lahff; ’e say: — 

“‘Him quare fer true. Me skeer da Buckra, me no skeer you; 
but you no skeer da Buckra. How come dis?’ 

“Da Lion lash ’e tail; ’e say: — 

“‘Me no skeer da Buckra, but me skeer da Pa’tridge; me 
berry skeer da Pa’tridge.’ 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e lahff tel ’e kin lahff no mo’. ’E say: — 

“‘How come you skeer da Pa’tridge? ’E fly wun you wink-a 
you’ eye; ’e run en ’e fly. Hoo! me no skeer ’bout dem Pa’tridge. 
Me skeer da Buckra.’ 

“Da Lion, ’e look all ’bout fer see ef da Pa’tridge bin cornin’. 
’E say: — 

“‘I skeer da Pa’tridge. Wun me bin walk in da bushside, da 
Pa’tridge ’e hoi’ right still ’pon da groun’ tel me come dey-dey, 
en dun ’e fly up — fud-d-d-d-d-d-e-e! Wun ’e is bin do dat me is 
git-a skeer berry bahd.’” 

No typographical device could adequately describe Daddy 
Jack’s imitation of the flushing of a covey of partridges, or quail; 
but it is needless to say that it made its impression upon the little 
boy. The old African went on: — 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e holler un lahff; ’e say: — 

“‘Me no skeer da Pa’tridge. I bin run dem up ebry day. Da 
no hu’t-a you, B’er Lion. You hoi’ you’ eye ’pon da Buckra Man. 
Da Pa’tridge, ’e no hab no gun fer shoot-a you wit’; da Buckra, ’e 
is bin hab one gun two tarn . 1 Let da Pa’tridge fly, B’er Lion; but 
wun da Buckra Man come you bes’ keep in de shady side. I tell 
you dis, B’er Lion.’ 

“Da Lion, ’e stan’ um down ’e no skeer da Buckra Man, en 
bimeby ’e say goo’-bye; ’e say ’e gwan look fer da Buckra Man 
fer true. 

1 One gun two times is a double-barrelled gun. 

277 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“So long tarn, B’er Rabbit is bin yeddy one big fuss in da 
timber; ’e yeddy da Lion v’ice. B’er Rabbit foiler da fuss tel ’e 
is bin come ’pon da Lion wey ’e layin’ ’pon da groun’. Da Lion, 
’e is moan; ’e is groan; ’e is cry. ’E hab hole in ’e head, one, two, 
t’ree hole in ’e side; ’e holler, ’e groan. B’er Rabbit, ’e ahx um 
howdy. ’E say: — 

“‘Ki, B’er Lion, wey you hab fine so much trouble?’ 

“Da Lion, ’e moan, ’e groan, ’e cry; ’e say: — 

“ 4 Ow, ma Lord! I hab one hole in me head, one, two, t’ree hole 
in me side, me leg bin bruk!’ 

“B’er Rabbit bin hoi’ ’e head ’pon one side; ’e look skeer. ’E 
say: — 

“‘Ki, B’er Lion! I no know da Pa’tridge is so bahd lak dat. 
I t’ink ’e fly ’way un no hu’t-a you. Shuh-shuh! wun I see dem 
Pa’tridge I mus’ git ’pon turrer side fer keep me hide whole.’ 

“Da Lion, ’e groan, ’e moan, ’e cry. B’er Rabbit, ’e say: — 

“‘Da Pa’tridge, ’e berry bahd; ’e mus’ bin borry da Buckra 
Man gun.’ 

“Da Lion, ’e groan, ’e cry: — 

“ ‘ ’E no da Pa’tridge no’n ’tall. Da Buckra Man is bin stan’ 
way off un shoot-a me wit’ ’e gun. Ow, ma Lord!’ 

“B’er Rabbit, ’e h’ist ’e han’; ’e say: — 

“‘Wut I bin tell-a you, B’er Lion? Wut I bin tell you ’bout 
da Buckra Man? Da Pa’tridge no hu’t-a you lak dis. ’E mek-a 
da big fuss, but ’e no hu’t-a you lak dis. Da Buckra Man, ’e no 
mek no fuss ’cep’ ’e p’int ’e gun at you — bang /’” 

“And what then?” the little boy asked, as Daddy Jack col¬ 
lapsed in his seat, seemingly forgetful of all his surroundings. 

“No’n’t all,” replied the old African, somewhat curtly. 

“De p’ints er dat tale, honey,” said Uncle Remus, covering the 
brusqueness of Daddy Jack with his own amiability, “is des 
’bout lak dis, dat dey ain’t no use er dodgin’ w’iles dey’s a big 
fuss gwine on, but you better take’n hide out w’en dey ain’t no 

278 


THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN 

racket; mo’ speshually w’en you see Miss Sally lookin’ behine de 
lookin’-glass fer dat ar peach-lim’ w’at she tuck’n make me kyar 
up dar day ’fo’ yistiddy; yit w’en she fine it don’t you git too 
skeer’d, ’kaze I tuck’n make some weak places in dat ar switch, 
en Miss Sally won’t mo’n strak you wid it ’fo’ hit’ll all come 
onjinted.” 

Parts of this moral the little boy understood thoroughly, for he 
laughed, and ran to the big house, and not long afterwards the 
light went out in Uncle Remus’s cabin; but the two old negroes 
sat and nodded by the glowing embers for hours afterwards, 
dreaming dreams they never told of. 


LVIII 

THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN 

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, one night shortly after 
Daddy Jack’s story of the lion’s sad predicament, “mamma says 
there are no lions in Georgia, nor anywhere in the whole coun¬ 
try.” 

“Tooby sho’ly not, honey; tooby sho’ly not!” exclaimed 
Uncle Remus. “I dunner who de name er goodness bin a-puttin’ 
dat kinder idee in yo’ head, en dey better not lemme fine um 
out, needer, ’kaze I’ll take en put Mars John atter um right raw 
en rank, dat I will.” 

“Well, you know Daddy Jack said that Brother Rabbit met 
the Lion coming down the road.” 

“Bless yo’ soul, honey! dat’s ’way ’cross de water whar ole 
man Jack tuck’n come fum, en a mighty long time ergo at dat. 
Hit’s away off yan, lots furder dan Ferginny yit. We-all er on 
one side de water, en de lions en mos’ all de yuther servigous 
creeturs, dey er on t’er side. Ain’t I never tell you how come 
dat?” 


279 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


The little boy shook his head. 

“Well, sir! I dunner w’at I bin doin’ all dis time dat I ain’t 
tell you dat, ’kaze dat’s whar de wussest kinder doin’s tuck’n 
happen. Yasser! de wussest kinder doin’s; en I’ll des whirl in 
en gin it out right now ’fo’ ole man Jack come wobblin’ in. 

“One time way back yander, ’fo’ dey wuz any folks a-foolin’ 
’roun’, Mr. Lion, he tuck’n tuck a notion dat he’d go huntin’, 
en nothin’ ’ud do ’im but Brer Rabbit must go wid ’im. Brer 
Rabbit, he ’low dat he up fer any kinder fun on top side er de 
groun’. Wid dat dey put out, dey did, en dey hunt en hunt 
clean ’cross de country. 

“Mr. Lion, he’d lam aloose en miss de game, en den Brer 
Rabbit, he’d lam aloose en fetch it down. No sooner is he do dis 
dan Mr. Lion, he’d squall out: — 

“‘Hit’s mine! hit’s mine! I kilt it!’ 

“Mr. Lion sech a big man dat Brer Rabbit skeer’d ter ’spute 
’long wid ’im, but he lay it up in he min’ fer to git even wid ’im. 
Dey went on en dey went on. Mr. Lion, he’d lam aloose en miss 
de game, en ole Brer Rabbit, he’d lam aloose en hit it, en Mr. 
Lion, he’d take’n whirl in en claim it. 

“Dey hunt all day long, en w’en night come, dey ’uz sech a 
fur ways fum home dat dey hatter camp out. Dey went on, dey 
did, twel dey come ter a creek, en w’en dey come ter dat, dey 
tuck’n scrape away de trash en built um a fire on de bank, en 
cook dey supper. 

“Atter supper dey sot up dar en tole tales, dey did, en Brer 
Rabbit, he tuck’n brag ’bout w’at a good hunter Mr. Lion is, 
en Mr. Lion, he leant back on he yelbow, en feel mighty biggity. 
Bimeby, w’en dey eyeleds git sorter heavy, Brer Rabbit, he 
up’n ’low: — 

“‘I’m a monst’us heavy sleeper, Mr. Lion, w’en I gits ter 
nappin’, en I hope en trus’ I ain’t gwine ’sturb you dis night, yit 
I got my doubts.’ 


280 


THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN 


“Mr. Lion, he roach he ha’r back outen he eyes, en ’low: — 

“‘I’m a monst’us heavy sleeper myse’f, Brer Rabbit, en I’ll 
feel mighty glad ef I don’t roust you up in de co’se er de 
night.’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n change his terbacker fum one side he 
mouf ter de yuther, he did, en he up’n ’low: — \ 

“Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you 
sno’ des’ fo’ you git soun’ asleep.’ 

“Mr. Lion, he tuck’n draw in he breff sorter hard, en show 
Brer Rabbit; den Brer Rabbit ’low: — 

“‘Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you 
sno’ atter yo done git soun’ asleep.’ 

“Mr. Lion, he tuck’n suck in he breff, en eve’y time he suck in 
he breff it soun’ des lak a whole passel er mules w’en dey whin- 
ney atter fodder. Brer Rabbit look ’stonish’. He roll he eye en 
’low: — 

“‘I year tell youer mighty big man, Mr. Lion, en you sho’ly 
is.’ 

“Mr. Lion, he hoi’ he head one side en try ter look ’shame’, 
but all de same he ain’t feel ’shame’. Bimeby, he shot he eye en 
’gun ter nod, den he lay down en stretch hisse’f out, en ’t wa’n’t 
long ’fo’ he ’gun ter sno’ lak he sno’ w’en he ain’t sleepin’ soun’. 

“Brer Rabbit, he lay dar. He ain’t sayin’nothin’. He lay dar 
wid one year h’ist up en one eye open. He lay dar, he did, en 
bimeby Mr. Lion ’gun ter sno’ lak he sno’ w’en he done gone fas 
ter sleep. 

“W’en ole Brer Rabbit year dis, he git up fum dar, en sprinkle 
hisse’f wid de cole ashes ’roun’ de fier, en den he tuck n fling er 
whole passel der hot embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he jump up, 
he did, en ax who done dat, en Brer Rabbit, he lay dar en kick 
at he year wid he behime foot, en holler ‘ Ow! ’ 

“Mr. Lion see de ashes on Brer Rabbit, en he dunner w at ter 
t’ink. He look all ’roun’, but he ain’t see nothin’. He drap he head 

281 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

en lissen, but he ain’t year nothin’. Den he lay down ’g’in en 
drap off ter sleep. Atter w’ile, w’en he ’gun ter sno’ lak he done 
befo\ Brer Rabbit, he jump up en sprinkle some mo’ cole ashes 
on hisse’f, en fling de hot embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion jump 
up, he did, en holler: — 

“‘Dar yo is ’g’in!’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he kick en squall, en ’low: — 

‘“You oughter be ’shame’ yo’se’f, Mr. Lion, fer ter be tryin’ 
ter bu’n me up.’ 

“Mr. Lion hoi’ up he han’s en des vow’t ain’t him. Brer Rab¬ 
bit, he look sorter jubous, but he ain’t say nothin’. Bimeby he 
holler out: — 

“‘Phewee! I smells rags a-bu’nin’!’ 

“Mr. Lion, he sorter flinch, he did, en ’low: — 

“°T ain’t no rags, Brer Rabbit; hit’s my ha’r a-sinjin’.’ 

“Dey look all ’roun’, dey did, but dey ain’t see nothin’ ner no¬ 
body. Brer Rabbit, he say he gwine do some tall watchin’ nex’ 
time, ’kaze he boun’ ter ketch de somebody w’at bin playin’ dem 
kinder pranks on um. Wid dat, Mr. Lion lay down ’g’in, en 
’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he drap ter sleep. 

“Well, den,” continued Uncle Remus, taking a long breath, 
“de ve’y same kinder doin’s tuck’n happen. De cole ashes fall on 
Brer Rabbit, en de hot embers fall on Mr. Lion. But by de 
time Mr. Lion jump up, Brer Rabbit, he holler out: — 

“ T seed um, Mr. Lion! I seed um! I seed de way dey come fum 
’cross de creek! Dey mos’ sho’ly did! ’ 

“Wid dat Mr. Lion, he fetch’d a beller en he jumped ’cross de 
creek. No sooner is he do dis,” Uncle Remus went on in a tone 
at once impressive and confidential, “no sooner is he do dis dan 
Brer Rabbit cut de string w’at hoi’ de banks togedder, en, lo en 
beholes, dar dey wuz!” 

“What was, Uncle Remus?” the little boy asked, more amazed 
than he had been in many a day. 

282 


BRER RABBIT AND BRER FOX 


“Bless yo’ soul, honey, de banks! Co’se w’en Brer Rabbit 
tuck’n cut de string, de banks er de creek, de banks, dey fall 
back, dey did, en Mr. Lion can’t jump back. De banks dey keep 
on failin’ back, en de creek keep on gittin’ wider en wider, twel 
bimeby Brer Rabbit en Mr. Lion ain’t in sight er one er n’er, en 
fum dat day to dis de big waters bin rollin’ ’twix’ um.” 

“But, Uncle Remus, how could the banks of a creek be tied 
with a string?” 

“ I ain’t ax um dat, honey, en darfo’ yo ’ll hatter take um ez you 
git um. Nex’ time de tale-teller come ’roun’ I ’ll up’n ax ’im, en 
ef you ain’t too fur off, I ’ll whirl in en sen’ you wud, en den you 
kin go en see fer yo’se’f. But’t ain’t skacely wuth yo’ w’ile fer 
ter blame me, honey, ’bout de creek banks bein’ tied wid a string. 
Who put um dar, I be bless ef I knows, but I knows who onloose 
um, dat w’at I knows!” 

It is very doubtful if this copious explanation was satisfactory 
to the child, but just as Uncle Remus concluded, Daddy Jack 
came shuffling in, and shortly afterwards both Aunt Tempy and 
’Tildy put in an appearance, and the mind of the youngster was 
diverted to other matters. 


LIX 

BRER RABBIT GETS BRER FOX’S DINNER 

After the new-comers had settled themselves in their accustomed 
places, and ’Tildy had cast an unusual number of scornful glances 
at Daddy Jack, who made quite a pantomime of his courtship, 
Uncle Remus startled them all somewhat by breaking into a loud 
laugh. 

“I boun’ you,” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, grinning with enthu¬ 
siastic sympathy, “I boun’ you Brer Remus done fine out some 
mo’ er Brer Rabbit funny doin’s; now I boun’ you dat.” 

283 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“You hit it de fus’ clip, Sis Tempy, I ’clar’ ter gracious ef you 
ain’t. You nailed it! You nailed it,” Uncle Remus went on, 
laughing as boisterously as before, “des lak ole Brer Rabbit 
done.” 

The little boy was very prompt with what Uncle Remus called 
his “inquirements,” and the old man, after the usual “hems” 
and “haws,” began. 

“Hit run’d ’cross my min’ des lak a rat ’long a rafter, de way 
ole Brer Rabbit tuk’n done Brer Fox. ’Periently, atter Brer 
Rabbit done went en put a steeple on top er he house, all de 
yuther creeturs wanter fix up dey house. Some put new cellars 
und’ um, some slapped on new winder-blines, some one thing and 
some er n’er, but ole Brer Fox, he tuck a notion dat he’d put 
some new shingles on de roof. 

“Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n year tell er dis, en nothin’d do but he 
mus’ rack ’roun’ en see how ole Brer Fox gittin’ on. W’en he git 
whar Brer Fox house is, he year a mighty lammin’ en a blam- 
min’ en lo en beholes, dar ’uz Brer Fox settin’ straddle er de 
comb er de roof nailin’ on shingles des hard ez he kin. 

“Brer Rabbit cut he eye ’roun’ en he see Brer Fox dinner settin’ 
in de fence-cornder. Hit ’uz kivered up in a bran new tin pail, en 
it look so nice dat Brer Rabbit mouf ’gun ter water time he see it, 
en he ’low ter hisse’f dat he bleedz ter eat dat dinner ’fo’ he go 
’way fum dar. 

“ Den Brer Rabbit tuck’n hail Brer Fox, en ax ’im how he 
come on. Brer Fox ’low he too busy to hoi’ any confab. Brer 
Rabbit up en ax ’im w’at is he doin ’up dar. Brer Fox ’low dat 
he puttin’ roof on he house ’g’in de rainy season sot in. Den Brer 
Rabbit up en ax Brer Fox w’at time is it, en Brer Fox, he ’low 
dat hit’s wukkin time wid him. Brer Rabbit, he up en ax Brer 
Fox ef he ain’t stan’ in needs er some he’p. Brer Fox, he ’low he 
did, dat ef he does stan’ in needs er any he’p, he dunner whar in 
de name er goodness he gwine to git it at. 

284 


BRER RABBIT AND BRER FOX 


“ Wid dat. Brer Rabbit sorter pull he mustarsh, en 'low dat de 
time wuz w’en he 'uz a mighty handy man wid a hammer, en 
he ain't too proud fer to whirl in en he’p Brer Fox out’n de 
ruts. 

“Brer Fox 'low he be mighty much erblige, en no sooner is he 
say dat dan Brer Rabbit snatched off he coat en lipt up de ladder, 
en sot in dar en put on mo’ shingles in one hour dan Brer Fox 
kin put on in two. 

“Oh, he 'uz a rattler — ole Brer Rabbit wuz," Uncle Remus 
exclaimed, noticing a questioning look in the child’s face. “He 'uz 
a rattler, mon, des ez sho' ez youer settin’ dar. Dey wa'n’t no 
kinder wuk dat Brer Rabbit can't put he han’ at, en do it better 
dan de nex’ man. 

“He nailed on shingles plum twel he git tired, Brer Rabbit did, 
en all de time he nailin’, he study how he gwine git dat dinner. 
He nailed en he nailed. He 'ud nail one row, en Brer Fox 'ud 
nail 'n’er row. He nailed en he nailed. He kotch Brer Fox en 
pass 'im — kotch 'im en pass 'im, twel bimeby w’iles he nailin’ 
'long Brer Fox tail git in he way. 

“Brer Rabbit ’low ter hisse’f, he did, dat he dunner w’at de 
name er goodness make folks have such long tails fer, en he push 
it out de way. He ain’t no mo’n push it out n de way, fo yer it 
come back in de way. Co’se," continued Uncle Remus, begin¬ 
ning to look serious, “w’en dat's de case dat a soon man lak Brer 
Rabbit git pester’d in he min’, he bleedz ter make some kinder 
accidents some’rs. 

“Dey nailed en dey nailed, en, bless yo' soul! ’t wa’n’t long 

’fo’Brer Fox drap eve’yt’ing en squall out: 

“‘Laws ’a’ massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nail my tail. He’p 
me, Brer Rabbit, he’p me! You done nail my tail! ”’ 

Uncle Remus waved his arms, clasped and unclasped his hands, 
stamped first one foot and then the other, and made various 
other demonstrations of grief and suffering. 

285 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Brer Rabbit, he shot fus’ one eye en den de yuther en rub 
hisse’f on de forrerd, en ’low: — 

“‘Sho’ly I ain’t nail yo’ tail, Brer Fox; sho’ly not. Look right 
close, Brer Fox, be keerful. Fer goodness sake don’ fool me. 
Brer Fox!’ 

“Brer Fox, he holler, he squall, he kick, he squeal.* 

“‘Laws ’a’ massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nailed my tail. 
Onnail me, Brer Rabbit, onnail me!’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he make fer de ladder, en w’en he start down, 
he look at Brer Fox lak he right down sorry, en he up’n ’low, he 
did: — 

“‘Well, well, well! Des ter t’ink dat I should er lamm’d aloose 
en nail Brer Fox tail. I dunner w’en I year tell er anyt’ing dat 
make me feel so mighty bad; en ef I had n’t er seed it wid my own 
eyes I would n’t er bleev’d it skacely — dat I would n’t!’ 

“Brer Fox holler, Brer Fox howl, yit’t ain’t do no good. Dar 
he wuz wid he tail nail hard en fas’. Brer Rabbit, he keep on 
talkin’ w’iles he gwine down de ladder. 

“‘Hit make me feel so mighty bad,’ sezee, ‘dat I dunner w’at 
ter do. Time I year tell un it, hit make a empty place come in my 
stomach,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“By dis time Brer Rabbit done git down on de groun’, en 
w’iles Brer Fox holler’n, he des keep on a-talkin’. 

“‘Dey’s a mighty empty place in my stomach/ sezee, ‘en ef I 
ain’t run’d inter no mistakes dey’s a tin-pail full er vittles in dish 
yer fence-cornder dat ’ll des ’bout fit it,’ sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee. 

“He open de pail, he did, en he eat de greens, en sop up de 
’lasses, en drink de pot-liquor, en w’en he wipe he mouf ’pun he 
coat-tail, he up’n ’low: — 

“‘I dunner w’en I bin so sorry ’bout anything, ez I is ’bout 
Brer Fox nice long tail. Sho’ly, sho’ly my head mus’ er bin wool- 
getherin’ w’en I tuck’n nail Brer Fox fine long tail,’ sez ole Brer 
Rabbit, sezee. 


286 



‘“I DUNNER W’EN I BIN SO SORRY ’BOUT ANYTHING, EZ I IS ’BOUT BRER 


FOX NICE LONG TAIL’” 












































































































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. 4 - 






























BRER RABBIT AND BRER FOX 

“Wid dat, he tuck’n skip out, Brer Rabbit did, en ’t wa’n’t 
long ’fo’ he ’uz playin’ he pranks in some yuther parts er de set¬ 
tlement.” 

“How did Brother Fox get loose?” the little boy asked. 

“Oh, you let Brer Fox ’lone fer dat,” responded Uncle Remus. 
“Nex’ ter Brer Rabbit, ole Brer Fox wuz mos’ de shiftiest creetur 
gwine. I boun’ you he tuck’n tuck keer hisse’f soon ez Brer Rab¬ 
bit git outer sight en year’n.” 











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LX 

HOW THE BEAR NURSED THE LITTLE ALLIGATORS 


While the negroes were talking of matters which the little boy 
took little or no interest in, he climbed into Uncle Remus’s lap, 
as he had done a thousand times before. Presently the old man 
groaned, and said: — 

“I be bless ef I know w’at de marter, honey. I dunner whe’er 
I’m a-gittin’ fibble in de lim’s, er whe’er youer outgrowin’ me. 
I lay I ’ll hatter sen’ out en git you a nuss w’at got mo’ strenk 
in dey lim’s dan w’at I is.” 

The child protested that he was n’t very heavy, and that he 
would n’t have any nurse, and the old man was about to forget 
that he had said anything about nurses, when Daddy Jack, who 
seemed to be desirous of appearing good-humored in the presence 
of ’Tildy, suddenly exclaimed: — 

“Me bin yeddy one tale ’bout da tarn w’en da lil Bear is bin 
nuss da ’Gator chilluns. ’E bin mek fine nuss fer true. ’E stan’ 
by dem lilly ’Gator tel dey no mo’ fer stan’ by.” 

Seeing that Daddy Jack manifested symptoms of going to 
sleep, the little boy asked if he would n’t tell the story, and, thus 
appealed to, the old African began: — 

“One tarn dey is bin one ole Bear; ’e big un ’e strong. ’E lif 
way in da swamp; ’e hab nes’ in da holler tree. ’E hab one, two 
lilly Bear in da nes’; ’e bin lub dem chillun berry ha’d. One day, 
’e git honkry; ’e tell ’e chillun ’e gwan ’way off fer git-a some bittle 
fer eat; ’e tell dem dey mus’ be good chillun un stay wey dey lif. 
’E say ’e gwan fer fetch dem one fish fer dey brekwus. Dun ’e 
gone off. 

“Da lil Bear chillun hab bin ’sleep till dey kin sleep no mo’. 

231 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

Da sun, ’e der shine worn, ’e mekky lilly Bear feel worn. Da lil 
boy Bear, ’e rub ’e y-eye, ’e say ’e gwan off fer hab some fun. 
Da lil gal Bear, ’e say: — 

“‘Wut will we mammy say?’ 

“Lil boy Bear, ’e der lahff. ’E say: — 

“‘Me gwan down by da crik side fer ketch some fish ’fo’ we 
mammy come.’ 

“Lil gal Bear, ’e look skeer; ’e say: — 

“‘We mammy say somet’ing gwan git-a you. Min’ wut ’e tell 
you.’ 

“Lil boy Bear, ’e keep on lahff. ’E say: — 

“‘Shuh-shuh! ’E yent nebber know less you tell um. You no 
tell um, me fetch-a you one big fish.’ 

“Lil boy Bear, ’e gone! ’E gone by da crik side, ’e tek ’e hook, 
’e tek ’e line, ’e is go by da crik side fer ketch one fish. Wun ’e 
come dey-dey, ’e see somet’ing lay dey in de mud. ’E t’ink it bin 
one big log. ’E lahff by ’ese’f; ’e say: — 

‘“’E one fine log fer true. Me ’tan’ ’pon da log fer ketch-a da 
fish fer me lil titty . 5 1 

“Lil boy Bear, 5 e der jump down; 5 e git 5 pon da log; 5 e fix fer 
fish; 5 e fix 5 e hook, 5 e fix 5 e line. Bumbye da log moof. Da lil boy 
Bear holler: — 

“‘Ow ma Lordy!’ 

“ 5 E look down; 5 e skeer mos 5 dead. Da log bin one big ’Gator. 
Da ’Gator ’e swim ’way wit’ da lil boy Bear ’pon ’e bahck. ’E 
flut ’e tail, ’e knock da lil boy Bear spang in ’e two han’. ’E grin 
wide, ’e feel da lil boy Bear wit’ ’e nose; ’e say: — 

“‘I tekky you wey me lif; me chillun is hab you fer dey brek- 
wus.’ 

“Da ’Gator, ’e bin swim toze da hole in da bank wey ’e lif. ’E 
come by da hole, ’e ca’ da lil boy Bear in dey. ’E is call up ’e 
chillun; ’e say: — 

1 Sissy. 

292 


THE BEAR AND THE ALLIGATORS 

“‘Come see how fine brekwus me bin brung you/ 

“Da ole ’Gator, ’e hab seben chillun in ’e bed. Da lil boy Bear 
git skeer; ’e holler, ’e cry, ’e beg. ’E say: — 

“‘ Please , Missy ’Gator, gib me chance fer show you how fine 
nuss me is — please , Missy ’Gator. Wun you gone ’way, me min’ 
dem chillun, me min’ um well.’ 

“Da ’Gator flut ’e tail; ’e say: — 

“ ‘I try you dis one day; you min’ dem lil one well, me luf you 
be.’ 

“Da ole ’Gator gone ’way; ’e luf da lil boy Bear fer min’ ’e 
chillun. ’E gone git somet’ing fer dey brekwus. Da lil boy Bear, 
’e set down dey-dey; ’e min’ dem chillun; ’e wait en ’e wait. Bum- 
bye, ’e is git honkry. ’E wait en ’e wait. ’E min’ dem chillun. 
’E wait en ’e wait. ’E ’come so honkry ’e yent mos’ kin hoi’ up ’e 
head. ’E suck ’e paw. ’E wait en ’e wait. Da ’Gator no come. 
’E wait en ’e wait. Da ’Gator no come some mo’. ’E say: — 

“‘Ow! me no gwan starf mese’f wun da planty bittle by side 
er me! ’ 

“Da lil boy Bear grab one da lil ’Gator by ’e neck; ’e tek um off 
in da bush side; ’e der eat um up. ’E no leaf ’e head, ’e no leaf ’e 
tail; ’e yent leaf nuttin’ ’t all. ’E go bahck wey da turrer lil 
’Gator bin huddle up in da bed. ’E rub ’ese’f ’pon da ’tomach; 
’e say: — 

“‘Hoo! me feel-a too good fer tahlk ’bout. I no know wut me 
gwan fer tell da ole ’Gator wun ’e is come bahck. Ki! me no keer. 
Me feel too good fer t’ink ’bout dem t’ing. Me t’ink ’bout dem 
wun da ’Gator is bin come; me t’ink ’bout dem bumbye wun da 
time come fer t’ink.’ 

“Da lil boy Bear lay down; ’e quile up in da ’Gator bed; ’e 
shed ’e y-eye; ’e sleep ha’d lak bear do wun ef full up. Bumbye, 
mos’ toze night, da ’Gator come; ’e holler: — 

“‘Hey! lil boy Bear! How you is kin min’ me chillun wun you 
is gone fer sleep by um?’ 


293 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Da lil boy Bear, ’e set up ’pon ’e ha’nch; ’e say: — 

“‘Me y-eye gone fer sleep, but me year wide ’wake/ 

“Da ’Gator flut ’e tail; ’e say: — 

“‘Wey me chillun wut me leaf you wit’?’ 

“Da lil boy Bear ’come skeer; ’e say: — 

“‘Dey all dey-dey, Missy ’Gator. Wait! lemme count dem, 
Missy ’Gator. 

Ui Yarrah one, yarrah narrah, 

Yarrah two ’pon tojp er tarrah, 

Yarrah t'ree pile up tergarrahl 91 

“Da ’Gator y-open ’e mout’, ’e grin wide; ’e say: — 

“‘Oona nuss dem well, lil boy Bear; come, fetch-a me one fer 
wash en git ’e supper.’ 

“Da lil boy Bear, ’e ca’ one, ’e ca’ nurrer, ’e ca’ turrer, ’e ca’ 
um all tel ’e ca’ six, den ’e come skeer. ’E t’ink da ’Gator gwan 
fine um out fer true. ’E stop, ’e yent know wut fer do. Da 
’Gator holler: — 

• “ ‘ Fetch-a me turrer! ’ 

“Da lil boy Bear, ’e grab da fus’ one, ’e wullup um in da mud, 
’e ca’ um bahck. Da ’Gator bin wash un feed um fresh; ’e yent 
know da diffran. 

“Bumbye, nex’ day mornin’, da ’Gator gone ’way. Da lil boy 
Bear stay fer nuss dem lil ’Gator. ’E come honkry; ’e wait, but 
’e come mo’ honkry. ’E grab nurrer lil ’Gator, ’e eat um fer ’e 
dinner. Mos’ toze night, da ’Gator come. It sem t’ing: — 

“‘Wey me chillun wut me leaf you fer nuss?’ 

“‘Dey all dey-dey, Missy ’Gator. Me count um out: — 

Yarrah one, yarrah narrah, 

Yarrah two 9 pon top er tarrah, 

Yarrah free pile up tergarrahl 9 

“’E ca’ um one by one fer wash en git dey supper. ’E ca’ two 

1 Here is one, here’s another; here are two on top of t’other; here are three piled up to¬ 
gether. 


294 


WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT 


bahck two tam. Ebry day ’e do dis way tel ’e come at de las’. 
’E eat dis one, en ’e gone luf da place wey da ’Gator lif. ’E gone 
down da crik side tel ’e is come by da foot-log, en ’e is run ’cross 
queek. ’E git in da bush, ’e fair fly tel ’e is come by da place wey 
’e lil titty bin lif. ’E come dey-dey, en ’e yent go ’way no mo’.” 

LXI 

WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT 

The little boy was not particularly pleased at the summary 
manner in which the young Alligators were disposed of; but he 
was very much amused at the somewhat novel method employed 
by the Bear to deceive the old Alligator. The negroes, however, 
enjoyed Daddy Jack’s story immensely, and even ’Tildy con¬ 
descended to give it her approval; but she qualified this by saying, 
as soon as she had ceased laughing: — 

“I ’clar’ ter goodness you all got mighty little ter do fer ter be 
settin’ down yer night atter night lis’nin’ at dat nigger man.” 

Daddy Jack nodded, smiled, and rubbed his withered hands 
together apparently in a perfect ecstasy of good-humor, and 
finally said: — 

“Oona come set-a by me, lil gal. ’E berry nice tale wut me 
tell-a you. Come sit-a by me, lil gal;’e berry nice tale. Efyouno 
want me fer tell-a you one tale, dun you is kin tell-a me one 
tale.” 

“Humph!” exclaimed ’Tildy, contemptuously, “you’ll set over 
dar in dat cornder en dribble many’s de long day ’fo’ I tell you 
any tale.” 

“Look yer, gal!” said Uncle Remus, pretending to ignore the 
queer courtship that seemed to be progressing between Daddy 
Jack and ’Tildy, “you gittin’ too ole fer ter be sawin’ de a’r wid 
yo ’head en squealin’ lak a filly. Ef you gwine ter set wid folks, 

295 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


you better do lak folks does. Sis Tempy dar ain’t gwine on dat 
a-way, en she ain’t think ’erse’f too big fer ter set up dar en jine 
in wid us en tell a tale, needer.” 

This was the first time that Uncle Remus had ever conde¬ 
scended to accord ’Tildy a place at his hearth on an equality with 
the rest of his company, and she seemed to be immensely tickled. 
A broad grin spread over her comely face as she exclaimed: — 

“Oh! I ’clar’ ter goodness,Unk Remus, I thought dat ole nigger 
man wuz des a-projickin’ ’long wid me. Ef it come down ter 
settin’ up yer ’long wid you all en tellin’ a tale, I ain’t ’nyin’ but 
w’at I got one dat you all ain’t never year tell un, ’kaze dat ar 
Slim Jim w’at Mars Ellick Akin got out’n de speckerlater wag- 
gin , 1 he up’n tell it dar at Riah’s des ’fo’ de patter-rollers tuck’n 
slipt up on um.” 

“Dar now!” remarked Aunt Tempy. ’Tildy laughed boister¬ 
ously. 

“W’at de patter-rollers do wid dat ar Slim Jim? ” Uncle Remus 
inquired. 

“Done nothin’!” exclaimed ’Tildy, with an air of humorous 
scorn. “Time dey got in dar Slim Jim ’uz up de chimbly, en 
Riah ’uz noddin’ in one cornder en me in de udder. Nobody 
never is ter know how dat ar long-leg nigger slick’d up dat chim¬ 
bly — dat dey ain’t. He put one foot on de pot-rack , 2 en whar 
he put de t’er foot I can’t tell you.” 

“What was the story?” asked the little boy. 

“I boun’ fer you, honey!” exclaimed Uncle Remus. 

“Well, den,” said ’Tildy, settling herself comfortably, and 
bridling a little as Daddy Jack manifested a desire to give her his 
undivided attention, — “well, den, dey wuz one time w’en ole 
Brer Rabbit ’uz bleedz ter go ter town atter sump’n’ ’n’er fer his 

1 Speculator’s wagon. 

* A bar of iron across the fireplace, with hooks to hold the pots and kettles. The 
original form of the crane. . ^ 


296 


WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT 


famerly, en he mos’ ’shame’ ter go ’kaze his shoes done wo’ 
tetotally out. Yit he bleedz ter go, en he put des ez good face 
on it ez he kin, en he take down he walkin’-cane en sot out des 
ez big ez de next un. 

“Well, den, ole Brer Rabbit go on down de big road twel he 
come ter de place whar some folks bin camp out de night befo’, 
en he sot down by de fier, he did, fer ter worn his foots, ’kaze 
dem mawnin’s ’uz sorter cole, like deze yer mawnin’s. He sot dar 
en look at his toes, en he feel mighty sorry fer hisse’f. 

“Well, den, he sot dar, he did, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he year 
sump’n’ ’n’er trottin’ down de road, en he tuck’n look up en 
yer come Mr. Dog a-smellin’ en a-snuffin’ ’roun’ fer ter see ef de 
folks lef’ any scraps by der camp-fier. Mr. Dog ’uz all dress up in 
his Sunday-go-ter-meetin’ cloze, en mo’n dat, he had on a pa’r er 
bran new shoes. 

“Well, den, w’en Brer Rabbit see dem ar shoes he feel mighty 
bad, but he ain’t let on. He bow ter Mr. Dog mighty perlite, en 
Mr. Dog bow back, he did, en dey pass de time er day, ’kaze 
dey ’uz ole ’quaintance. Brer Rabbit, he say: — 

“‘Mr. Dog, whar you gwine all fix up like dis?’ 

“‘I gwine ter town, Brer Rabbit; whar you gwine?’ 

“ ‘ I thought I go ter town myse’f fer ter git me new pa’r shoes, 
’kaze my ole uns done wo’ out en dey hu’ts my foots so bad I 
can’t w’ar um. Dem mighty nice shoes w’at you got on, Mr. Dog; 
whar you git um?’ 

“ 6 Down in town, Brer Rabbit, down in town. 

“ ‘ Dey fits you mighty slick, Mr. Dog, en I wish you be so good 
ez ter lemme try one un um on.’ 

“Brer Rabbit talk so mighty sweet dat Mr. Dog sot right flat 
on de groun’ en tuck off one er de behime shoes, en loant it ter 
Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit, he lope off down de road en den he 
come back. He tell Mr. Dog dat de shoe fit mighty nice, but wid 
des one un um on, hit make ’im trot crank-sided. 

297 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Well, den, Mr. Dog, he pull off de yuther behime shoe, en 
Brer Rabbit trot off en try it. He come back, he did, en he 
say: — 

“‘Dey mighty nice, Mr. Dog, but dey sorter r’ars me up be¬ 
hime, en I dunner ’zackly how dey feels.’ 

“Dis make Mr. Dog feel like he wan ter be perlite, en he take 
off de befo’ shoes, en Brer Rabbit put um on en stomp his foots, 
en ’low: — 

“‘Now dat sorter feel like shoes;’ en he rack off down de road, 
en w’en he git whar he oughter tu’n ’roun’, he des lay back he 
years en keep on gwine; en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he git outer sight. 

“Mr. Dog, he holler, en tell ’im fer ter come back, but Brer 
Rabbit keep on gwine; Mr. Dog, he holler, Mr. Rabbit, he keep 
on gwine. En down ter dis day,” continued ’Tildy, smacking her 
lips, and showing her white teeth, “Mr. Dog bin a-runnin’ Brer 
Rabbit, en ef you’ll des go out in de woods wid any Dog on dis 
place, des time he smell de Rabbit track he ’ll holler en tell ’im 
fer ter come back.” 

“Dat’s de Lord’s trufe!” said Aunt Tempy. 


LXII 

BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE 

Daddy Jack appeared to enjoy ’Tildy’s story as thoroughly as 
the little boy. 

“’E one fine tale. ’E mekky me lahff tell tear is come in me 
y-eye,” the old African said. And somehow or other ’Tildy 
seemed to forget her pretended animosity to Daddy Jack, and 
smiled on him as pleasantly as she did on the others. Uncle 
Remus himself beamed upon each and every one, especially upon 
Aunt Tempy; and the little boy thought he had never seen every¬ 
body in such good-humor. 


298 


BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE 

“Sis Tempy,” said Uncle Remus, “I ’speck it’s yo’ time fer ter 
put in.” 

“I des bin rackin’ my min’,” said Aunt Tempy, thoughtfully. 
“ I see you fixin’ dat ar hawn, en terreckerly hit make me think 
’bout a tale w’at I ain’t year none en you tell yit.” 

Uncle Remus was polishing a long cow’s-horn, for the purpose 
of making a hunting-horn for his master. 

“Hit come ’bout one time dat all de creeturs w’at got hawns 
tuck a notion dat dey got ter meet terge’er en have a confab fer 
ter see how dey gwine take ker deyse’f, ’kaze dem t’er creeturs 
w’at got tush en claw, dey uz des a-snatchin’ um fum ’roun’ 
eve’y cornder.” 

“Tooby sho’!” said Uncle Remus, approvingly. 

“Dey sont out wud, de hawn creeturs did, en dey tuck’n meet 
terge’er ’way off in de woods. Man — Sir! — dey wuz a big gang 
un um, en de muster dey had out dar’t wa n t b ar tellin skacely. 
Mr. Bull, he ’uz dar, en Mr. Steer, en Miss Cow” — 

“And Mr. Benjamin Ram, with his fiddle,” suggested the 
little boy. 

— “Yes, ’n Mr. Billy Goat, en Mr. Unicorn” — 

“En ole man Rinossyhoss,” said Uncle Remus. 

— “Yes, ’n lots mo’ w’at I ain’t know de names un. Man — 
gj r j — (fey had a mighty muster out dar. Ole Brer Wolf, he 
tuck’n year ’bout de muster, en he sech a smarty dat nothin’ 
ain’t gwine do but he mus’ go en see w at dey doin .. 

“He study ’bout it long time, en den he went out in de timber 
en cut ’im two crooked sticks, en tie um on his head, en start 
off ter whar de hawn creeturs meet at. W’en he git dar Mr. Bull 
ax ’im who is he, w’at he want, whar he come frum, en whar he 
gwine. Brer Wolf, he ’low: ^ 

“‘Ba-a-a! I’m name little Sook Calf!’” 

“Eh-eh! Look out, now!” exclaimed ’Tildy, enthusiastically. 

“Mr. Bull look at Brer Wolf mighty hard over his specks, but 

299 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


atter a w’ile he go off some’rs else, en Brer Wolf take his place in 
de muster. 

“Well, den, bimeby, terreckerly, dey got ter talkin’ en tellin’ 
der ’sperence des like de w’ite folks does at class-meetin’. W’iles 
dey ’uz gwine on dis a-way, a great big hoss-fly come sailin’ 
’roun’, en Brer Wolf tuck’n fergit hisse’f, en snap at ’im. 

“All dis time Brer Rabbit bin hidin’ out in de bushes watchin’ 
Brer Wolf, en w’en he see dis he tuck’n break out in a laugh. 
Brer Bull, he tuck’n holler out, he did: — 

“‘Who dat laughin’ en showin’ der manners?’ 

“Nobody ain’t make no answer, en terreckerly Brer Rabbit 
holler out: — 

u< 0 kittle-cattle, kittle-cattle, whar yo ’ eyes ? 

Who ever see a Sook Calf snappin* at flies V 

“De hawn creeturs dey all look ’roun’ en wonder w’at dat 
mean, but bimeby dey go on wid dey confab. ’T wa’n’t long ’fo’ 
a flea tuck’n bite Brer Wolf ’way up on de back er de neck, en 
’fo’ he know what he doin’, he tuck’n squat right down en scratch 
hisse’f wid his behime foot.” 

“Enty!” exclaimed Daddy Jack. 

“Dar you is!” said ’Tildy. 

“Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n broke out in ’n’er big laugh en ’sturb 
um all, en den he holler out: — 

Scritchum-scratchum , lawsy, my laws ! 

Look at dat Sook Calf scratchin’ wid claws / * 

“Brer Wolf git mighty skeer’d, but none er de hawn creeturs 
ain’t take no notice un ’im, en’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ Brer Rabbit 
holler out ag’in: — 

“ * Rinktum-tinktum, ride *im on a rail1 
Dat Sook Calf got a long bushy tail l * 

“De hawn creeturs, dey go on wid der confab, but Brer Wolf 
git skeerder en skeerder, ’kaze he notice dat Mr. Bull got his 

300 


BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE 


eye on ’im. Brer Rabbit, he ain’t gin ’im no rest. He holler 
out: — 

“'One en one never kin make six , 

Sticks ain't hawns t en havms ain't sticks 1 * 

“ Wid dat Brer Wolf make ez ef he gwine ’way fum dar, en he 
wa’n’t none too soon, needer, ’kaze ole Mr. Bull splunge at ’im, 
en little mo’ en he’d er nat’ally to’ ’im in two.” 

“Did Brother Wolf get away?” the little boy asked. 

“ Yas, Lord!” said Aunt Tempy, with unction; “he des scooted 
’way fum dar, en he got so mad wid Brer Rabbit, dat he tuck’n 
play dead, en wud went ’roun’ dat dey want all de creeturs fer 
ter go set up wid ’im. Brer Rabbit, he went down dar fer ter look 
at ’im, en time he see ’im, he ex: — 

“‘Is he grin yit?’ 

“All de creeturs dey up’n say he ain’t grin, not ez dey knows 
un. Den Brer Rabbit, he ’low, he did: — 

“‘Well, den, gentermuns all, ef he ain’t grin, den he ain’t dead 
good. In all my ’speunce folks ain’t git dead good tel dey grins .’ 1 

“ W’en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit talk dat a-way, he tuck’n 
grin fum year ter year, en Brer Rabbit, he picked up his hat en 
walkin’-cane en put out fer home, en w’en he got ’way off in de 
woods he sot down en laugh fit ter kill hisse f. 

Uncle Remus had paid Aunt Tempy the extraordinary tribute 
of pausing in his work to listen to her story, and when she had 
concluded it, he looked at her in undisguised admiration, and 

exclaimed:— ? . 

“I be bless, Sis Tempy, ef you ain’t wuss’n w’at I is, en I m 

bad ’nuff’, de Lord knows I is!” 

1 See Uncle Remus : His Songs and his Sayings y p. 60. 


301 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


LXIII 

BRER FOX AND THE WHITE MUSCADINES 

Aunty Tempy did not attempt to conceal the pleasure which 
Uncle Remus’s praise gave her. She laughed somewhat shyly, 
and said: — 

“Bless you, Brer Remus! I des bin a-settin’ yer Tamin’. ’Sides 
dat, Chris’mus ain’t fur off en I ’speck we er all a-feelin’ a sight 
mo’ humorsome dan common.” 

“Dat’s so, Sis Tempy. I ’uz cornin’ thoo de lot des ’fo’ sup¬ 
per, en I seed de pigs runnin’ en playin’ in de win’, en I ’low ter 
myse’f, sez I, ‘Sholy dey’s a-gwine ter be a harrycane,’ en den 
all at once hit come in my min’ dat Chris’mus mighty close at 
han’, en den on ter dat yer come de chickens a-crowin’ des now 
en’t ain’t nine er’clock. I dunner how de creeturs know Chris’¬ 
mus cornin’, but dat des de way it stan’s.” 

The little boy thought it was time enough to think about 
Christmas when the night came for hanging up his stockings, 
and he asked Uncle Remus if it was n’t his turn to tell a story. 
The old man laid down the piece of glass with which he had been 
scraping the cow’s horn, and hunted around among his tools for 
a piece of sandpaper before he replied. But his reply was suffi¬ 
cient. He said: — 

“One time w’iles Brer Rabbit wuz gwine thoo de woods he 
tuck’n strak up wid ole Brer Fox, en Brer Fox ’low, he did, dat he 
mighty hongry. Brer Rabbit ’low dat he ain’t feelin’ dat a-way 
hisse’f, ’kaze he des bin en had er bait er w’ite muscadimes, en 
den he tuck’n smack he mouf en lick he chops right front er Brer 
Fox. Brer Fox, he ax, sezee: — 

“‘Brer Rabbit, whar de name er goodness is deze yer w’ite 
muscadimes, en how come I’m ain’t never run ’crosst um?’ 
sez^e. 


302 


BRER FOX AND THE MUSCADINES 

“‘I dunner w’at de reason you ain’t never come up wid urn,’ 
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; ‘some folks sees straight, some sees 
crooked, some sees one thing, some sees ’n’er. I done seed dem ar 
w’ite muscadimes, en let ’lone dat, I done wipe um up. I done 
e’t all dey wuz on one tree, but I lay dey’s lots mo’ un um ’roun’ 
in dem neighborhoods,’ sezee. 

“Ole Brer Fox mouf ’gun to water, en he git mighty restless. 

“‘Come on, Brer Rabbit; come on! Come show me whar dem 
ar w’ite muscadimes grows at,’ sezee. 

“Brer Rabbit, he sorter hang back. Brer Fox, he ’low : — 

“‘Come on, Brer Rabbit, come on!’ 

“Brer Rabbit, he hang back, en bimeby he ’low:— 

“‘Uh-uh, Brer Fox! You wanter git me out dar in de timber 
by myse’f en do sump’n’ ter me. You wanter git me out dar en 
skeer me.’ 

“Ole Brer Fox, he hoi’ up he han’s, he do, en he ’low: 

“‘I des ’clar’ ’fo’ gracious, Brer Rabbit, I ain’t gwine do no 
sech uv a thing. I dunner w’at kinder ’pinion you got ’bout me 
fer ter have sech idee in yo’ head. Come on, Brer Rabbit, en less 
we go git dem ar w’ite muscadimes. Come on, Brer Rabbit. 

“‘Uh-uh, Brer Fox! I done year talk er you playin’ so many 
prank wid folks dat I fear’d fer ter go ’way off dar wid you.’ 

“Dey went on dat a-way,” continued Uncle Remus, endeavor¬ 
ing to look at the little boy through the crooked cow’s horn, 
“twel bimeby Brer Fox promise he ain’t gwine ter bodder long 
er Brer Rabbit, en den dey tuck’n put out. En whar you ’speck 
dat ar muscheevous Brer Rabbit tuck’n kyar Brer Fox? 

Uncle Remus paused and gazed around upon his audience with 
uplifted eyebrows, as if to warn them to be properly astonished. 
Nobody made any reply, but all looked expectant, and Uncle 
Remus went on: — 

“He ain’t kyar ’im nowhars in de roun’ worl but ter one er 
deze yer great big scaly-bark trees. De tree wuz des loaded down 

S03 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

wid scaly-barks, but dey wa’n’t ripe, en de green hulls shined in 
de sun des lak dey ben whitewash’. Brer Fox look ’stonish’. 
Atter w’ile he up’n ’low: — 

“‘Is dem ar de w’ite muscadimes? Mighty funny I ain’t fine 
it out ’fo’ dis.’ 

“Ole Brer Rabbit, he scratch hisse’f en ’low: — 

“‘Dems um. Dey may n’t be ripe ez dem w’at I had fer my 
brekkus, but dems de w’ite muscadimes sho’ ez youer bawn. Dey 
er red bullaces 1 en dey er black bullaces, but deze yer, dey er de 
w’ite bullaces.’ 

“Brer Fox, sezee, ‘How I gwine git um?’ 

“Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘You’ll des hatter do lak I done.’ 

“Brer Fox, sezee, ‘How wuz dat?’ 

“Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘You’ll hatter clam fer’m.’ 

“Brer Fox, sezee, ‘How I gwine clam?’ 

“Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘Grab wid yo’ han’s, clam wid yo’ legs, 
en I’ll push behime!’” 

“Man — Sir! — he’s a-talkin’ now!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, 
enthusiastically. 

“Brer Fox, he clum, en Brer Rabbit, he push, twel, sho’ ’nuff, 
Brer Fox got wdiar he kin grab de lowmos’ lim’s, en dar he wuz! 
He crope on up, he did, twel he come ter whar he kin retch de 
green scaly-bark, en den he tuck’n pull one en bite it, en, genter- 
mens! hit uz dat rough en dat bitter twel little mo’ en he’d ’a’ 
drapt spang out’n de tree. 

“He holler ‘ Ow /’ en spit it out’n he mouf des same ez ef ’t 
wuz rank pizen, en he make sech a face dat you would n’t b’leeve 
it skacely less’n you seed it. Brer Rabbit, he hatter cough fer ter 
keep fum laughin’, but he make out ter holler, sezee: — 

“‘Come down, Brer Fox! Dey ain’t ripe. Come down en less 
go some’rs else.’ 

“Brer Fox start down, en he git ’long mighty well twel he 

1 Another name for muscadines. 

304 


BRER FOX AND THE MUSCADINES 

come ter de lowmos’ lim’s, en den w’en he git dar he can’t come 
down no furder, ’kaze he ain’t got no claw fer cling by, en not 
much leg fer clamp. 

“Brer Rabbit keep on hollerin’, ‘Come down!’ en Brer Fox 
keep on studyin’ how he gwine ter come down. Brer Rabbit, he 
’low, sezee: — 

“‘Come on, Brer Fox! I tuck’n push you up, en ef I ’uz dar 
whar you is, I’d take’n push you down.’ 

“Brer Fox sat dar on de lowmos’ lim’s en look lak he skeer’d. 
Bimeby Brer Rabbit tuck he stan’ ’way off fum de tree, en he 
holler, sezee: — 

“ ‘ Ef you ’ll take’n jump out dis way. Brer Fox, I ’ll ketch you.’ 

“Brer Fox look up, he look down, he look all ’roun’. Brer 
Rabbit come little closer, en ’low, sezee: — 

“‘Hop right down yer, Brer Fox, en I’ll ketch you.’ 

“Hit keep on dis a-way, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox tuck a notion 
to jump, en des ez he jump Brer Rabbit hop out de way en holler, 
sezee:— 

“‘Owl Scuze me, Brer Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot! Scuze 
me, Brer Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot!’ 

“En dat ole Brer Fox,” continued Uncle Remus, dropping his 
voice a little, “dat ole Brer Fox, gentermens! you oughter bin 
dar! He hit de groun’ like a sack er taters, en it des nat’ally 
knock de breff out’n ’im. W’en he git up en count hisse’f fer ter 
see ef he all dar, he ain’t kin walk skacely, en he sat dar en lick 
de so’ places a mighty long time ’fo’ he feel lak he kin make he 
way todes home.” 

When the little boy wanted to know what became of Brother 
Rabbit Uncle Remus said: — 

“Shoo! don’t you pester ’bout Brer Rabbit. He kick up he 
heels en put out fum dar.” Then he added: “Dem ar chick ns 
crowin’ ’g’in, honey. Done gone by nine er’clock. Scoot out fum 
dis. Miss Sally ’ll be a-rakin’ me over de coals.” 

305 


' NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 
LXIV 

MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD 
One night the little boy ran into Uncle Remus’s cabin singing: — 

“ T-u Turkey , t-u Ti , 

T-u Turkey Buzzard's eye!'* 

Uncle Remus, Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and ’Tildy were all 
sitting around the fire, for the Christmas weather was beginning 
to make itself rather severely felt. As they made room for the 
child, Daddy Jack flung his head back, and took up the song, 
beating time with his foot: — 

“*T-u Tukry y t-u Ti> 

T-u Tukry-Buzzud y-eye 1 
T-u Tukry , t-u Ting , 

T-u Tukry-Buzzud wing I " 

“Deyer mighty kuse creeturs,” said ’Tildy, who was sitting 
rather nearer to Daddy Jack than had been her custom, — a fact 
to which Aunt Tempy had already called the attention of Uncle 
Remus by a motion of her head, causing the old man to smile a 
smile as broad as it was wise. “Deyer mighty kuse, an’ I’m 
fear’d un urn,” ’Tildy went on. “Dey looks so lonesome hit 
makes me have de creeps fer ter look at um.” 

“Dey no hu’t-a you,” said Daddy Jack, soothingly. “You 
flut you’ han’ toze um dey fly ’way fum dey-dey.” 

“I dunno ’bout dat,” said ’Tildy. “Deyer bal’-headed, en 
dat w’at make me ’spize um.” 

Daddy Jack rubbed the bald place on his head with such a 
comical air that even ’Tildy laughed. The old African retained 
his good-humor. 

“You watch dem Buzzud,” he said after awhile, addressing 
himself particularly to the little boy. “ ’E fly high, ’e fly low, ’e 
fly ’way ’roun’. Rain come, ’e flup ’e wings, ’e light ’pon dead 

306 


MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD 

pine. Rain fall, ’e hug ’ese’f wit’ ’e wing, ’e scrooge ’e neck up. 
Rain come, win’ blow, da Buzzud bin-a look ragged. Da Buz- 
zud bin-a wink ’e y-eye, ’e say: — 

“‘Wun da win’ fer stop blow en da rain fer stop drip, me go 
mek me one house. Me mek um tight fer keep da rain out; me 
pit top on strong fer keep da win’ out.’ 

“Dun da rain dry up en da win’ stop. Da Buzzud, ’e stan’ 
’pon top da dead pine. Wun da sun bin-a shine, ’e no mek um no 
house no’n ’tall. ’E stay ’pon da dead pine; ’e ’tretch ’e wing 
wide open; ’e bin dry hisse’f in da sun. ’E hab mek no house 
sence ’e bin born. ’E one fool bud.” 

“En yit,” said Uncle Remus, with a grave, judicial air, “I 
year tell er one time w’en ole Brer Buzzard wa’n’t so mighty fur 
outer de way wid he notions.” 

“Me yent yeddy tahlk ’bout dis,” Daddy Jack explained. 

“I ’speck not,” responded Uncle Remus. “Hit seem lak dat 
dey wuz one time w’en Mr. Hawk come sailin’ ’roun’ huntin’ fer 
sump’n’ ’n’er t’ eat, en he see Brer Buzzard settin’ on a dead 
lim’, lookin’ mighty lazy en lonesome. 

“Mr. Hawk, sezee, ‘How you come on, Brer Buzzard?’ 

“Brer Buzzard, sezee, ‘I’m mighty po’ly, Brer Hawk; po’ly 
en hongry.’ 

“Mr. Hawk, sezee, ‘W’at you waitin’ yer fer ef you hongry, 
Brer Buzzard?’ 

“Brer Buzzard, sezee, ‘I’m a-waitin’ on de Lord.’ 

“Mr. Hawk, sezee, ‘Better run en git yo’ brekkus, Brer Buz¬ 
zard, en den come back en wait.’ 

“Brer Buzzard, sezee, ‘No, Brer Hawk, I’ll go bidout my 
brekkus druther den be biggity ’bout it.’ 

“Mr. Hawk, he ’low, sezee, ‘Well, den, Brer Buzzard, you got 
yo’ way en I got mine. You see dem ar chick’ns, down dar in Mr. 
Man hoss-lot? I’m a-gwine down dar en git one un um, en den 
I’ll come back yer en wait ’long wid you.’ 

307 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“Wid dat, Mr. Hawk tuck’n sail off, en Brer Buzzard drop he 
wings down on de lim’ en look mighty lonesome. He sot dar en 
look mighty lonesome, he did, but he keep one eye on Mr. Hawk. 

“Mr. Hawk, he sail ’roun’ en ’roun’, en he look mighty purty. 
He sail ’roun’ en ’roun’ ’bove de hoss-lot — ’roun’ en ’roun’ — en 
bimeby he dart down at chick’ns. He shot up he wings en dart 
down, he did, des same ef he ’uz fired out’n a gun.” 

“Watch out, pullets!” exclaimed ’Tildy, in a tone of warning. 

“He dart down, he did,” continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his 
hand thoughtfully across the top of his head, “but stidder he 
hittin’ de chick’ns, he tuck’n hit ’pon de sharp een’ un a fence- 
rail. He hit dar, he did, en dar he stuck.” 

“Ah-yi-ee!” exclaimed Daddy Jack. 

“ Dar he stuck. Brer Buzzard sot en watch ’im. Mr. Hawk ain’t 
move. Brer Buzzard sot en watch ’im some mo’. Mr. Hawk ain’t 
move. He done stone dead. De mo’ Brer Buzzard watch ’im de 
mo’ hongrier he git, en bimeby he gedder up he wings, en sorter 
clean out he year wid he claw, en ’low, sezee: — 

“‘I know’d de Lord ’uz gwineter pervide.’” 

“Trufe too!” exclaimed Aunt Tempy. “’T ain’t bin in my 
min’ dat Buzzard got sense lak dat!” 

“Dar’s whar you missed it, Sis Tempy,” said Uncle Remus 
gravely. “Brer Buzzard, he tuck’n drap down fum de dead lim’, 
en he lit on Mr. Hawk, en had ’im fer brekkus. Hit’s a mighty 
’roun’ about w^ay fer ter git chick’n-pie, yit hit’s lots better dan 
no way.” 

“I ’speck Hawk do tas’e like chicken,” remarked ’Tildy. 

“Dey mos’ sho’ly does,” said Uncle Remus, with emphasis. 


308 


MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT 


LXV 

MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT 

“I year tell er one time,” said ’Tildy, “w’en ole Mr. Hawk 
tuck’n kotch Brer Rabbit, but’t ain’t no tale like dem you all 
bin tellin’.” 

“Tell it, anyhow, ’Tildy,” said the little boy. 

“Well, ’t ain’t no tale, I tell you dat now. One time Brer Rab¬ 
bit wuz gwine ’long thoo de bushes singin’ ter hisse’f, en he see a 
shadder pass befo’ ’im. He look up, en dar ’uz Mr. Hawk sailin’ 
’roun’ en ’roun’. Time he see ’im, Brer Rabbit ’gun ter kick up 
en sassy ’im. 

“Mr. Hawk ain’t pay no ’tention ter dis. He des sail all ’roun’ 
en ’roun’. Eve’y time he sail ’roun’, he git little closer, but Brer 
Rabbit ain’t notice dis. He too busy wid his devilment. He shuck 
his fis’ at Mr. Hawk, en chunk’d at ’im wid sticks ; 1 en atter 
w’ile he tuck’n make out he got a gun, en he tuck aim at Mr. 
Hawk, en ’low’d, ‘Pow!’ en den he holler en laugh. 

“All dis time Mr. Hawk keep on sailin’ ’roun’ en ’roun’ en 
gittin’ nigher en nigher, en bimeby down he drapt right slam- 
bang on Brer Rabbit, en dar he had im. Brer Rabbit fix fer ter 
say his pra’rs, but ’fo’ he do dat, he talk to Mr. Hawk, en he 
talk mighty fergivin’. He’low he did: 

“‘I ’uz des playin’, Mr. Hawk; I ’uz dez a-playin’. You 
oughtn’ ter fly up en git mad wid a little bit er man like me.’ 

“Mr. Hawk ruffle up de fedders on his neck en say: — 

“‘I ain’t flyin’ up, I’m a-flyin’ down, en w’en I fly up, I’m 
a-gwine ter fly ’way wid you. You bin a-playin de imp roun in 
dis settlement long ’nuff, en now ef you got any will ter make, 
you better make it quick, ’kaze you ain’t got much time.’ 

“Brer Rabbit cry. He say: — 

1 That is to say, threw sticks at Mr. Hawk. 

309 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“‘I mighty sorry, Mr. Hawk, dat I is. I got some gol’ buried 
right over dar in fence cornder, en I wish in my soul my po’ 
little childuns know whar’t wuz, ’kaze den dey could git long 
widout me fer a mont’ er two.’ 

“Mr. Hawk ’low, ‘Whar’bouts is all dis gol’?’ 

“Brer Rabbit low, 'Right over dar in de fence-cornder/ 

“Mr. Hawk say show it ter ’im. Brer Rabbit say he don’t 
keer ef he do, en he say: — 

“‘I’d ’a’ done show’d it ter you long ’fo’ dis, but you hoi’ me so 
tight, I can’t wink my eye skacely, much less walk ter whar de 
gol’ is.’ 

“Mr. Hawk say he fear’d he gwineter try ter git ’way. Brer 
Rabbit say dey ain’t no danger er dat, ’kaze he one er deze yer 
kinder mens w’en dey er kotch once deyer kotch fer good. 

“Mr. Hawk sorter let Brer Rabbit loose, en dey went todes 
de fence-cornder. Brer Rabbit, he went ’long so good dat dis 
sorter ease Mr. Hawk min’ ’bout he gittin’ ’way. Dey got ter de 
place en Brer Rabbit look all ’roun’, en den he frown up like he 
got some mighty bad disap’intment, en he say: — 

“‘You may b’lieve me er not, Mr. Hawk, but we er on de 
wrong side er de fence. I hid dat gol’ some’rs right in dat cornder 
dar. You fly over en I’ll go thoo.’ 

“Tooby sho’ dis look fa’r, en Brer Rabbit, he crope thoo’ de 
fence, en Mr. Hawk flew’d ’cross. Time he lit on t’er side, Mr. 
Hawk year Brer Rabbit laugh.” 

The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit laughed for, as ’Tildy 
paused to adjust a flaming red ribbon-bow pinned in her hair. 

“’Kaze dey wuz a brier-patch on t’er side de fence,” said 
’Tildy, “en Brer Rabbit wuz in dar.” 

“I boun’ you!” Aunt Tempy exclaimed. “He ’uz in dar, en 
dar he stayed tel Mr. Hawk got tired er hangin’ ’roun’ dar.” 

“Ah, Lord, chile!” said Uncle Remus, with the candor of an 
expert, “some er dat tale you got right, en some you got wrong.” 

310 


MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT 


“Oh, I know’d’t wa’n’t no tale like you all bin tellin’,”replied 
’Tildy, modestly. 

“Tooby sho’ ’t is,” continued Uncle Remus, by way of en¬ 
couragement; “but w’iles we gwine ’long we better straighten 
out all de kinks dat’ll b’ar straightenin’.” 

“Goodness knows I ain’t fittin’ ter tell no tale,” persisted 
’Tildy. 

“Don’t run yo’se’f down, gal,” said Uncle Remus, encourag¬ 
ingly; “ef dey’s to be any runnin’ down let yuther folks do it; 
en, bless yo’ soul, dey’ll do ’nuff un it bidout waitin’ fer yo’ 
lettin’. 

“Now, den, old man Hawk, — w’ich dey call ’im Billy Blue- 
tail in my day en time, — ole man Hawk, he tuck’n kotch Brer 
Rabbit des lak you done said. He kotch ’im en he hilt ’im in a 
mighty tight grip, let ’lone dat he hilt ’im so tight dat it make 
Brer Rabbit breff come short lak he des come off’n a long jurney. 

“He holler en he beg, but dat ain’t do no good; he squall en he 
cry, but dat ain’t do no good; he kick en he groan, but dat ain’t 
do no good. Den Brer Rabbit lay still en study ’bout w’at de 
name er goodness he gwine do. Bimeby he up’n ’low: — 

“ ‘ I dunner w’at you want wid me, Mr. Hawk, w’en I ain’t a 
mouf full fer you, skacely!’ 

“Mr. Hawk, sezee, ‘I ’ll make way wid you, en den I ’ll go ketch 
me a couple er Jaybirds.’ 

“Dis make Brer Rabbit shake wid de allovers, ’kaze ef dey’s 
any kinder creetur w’at he nat’ally ’spize on de topside er de 
yeth, hit’s a Jaybird. 

“Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘Do, pray, Mr. Hawk, go ketch dem Jay¬ 
birds fus\ ’kaze I can’t stan’ urn bein’ on top er me. I’ll stay 
right yer, plum twel you come back,’ sezee. 

“Mr. Hawk, sezee, ‘Oh-oh, Brer Rabbit, you done bin fool 
too many folks. You ain’t fool me,’ sezee. 

“Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘Ef you can’t do dat, Mr. Hawk, den de 
311 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

bes’ way fer you ter do is ter wait en lemme git tame, ’kaze I’m 
dat wiP now dat I don’t tas’e good.’ 

“Mr. Hawk, sezee, ‘Oh-oh!’ 

“Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘Well, den, ef dat won’t do, you better 
wait en lemme grow big so I’ll be a full meal er vittles.’ 

“Mr. Hawk, sezee, ‘Now youer talkin’ sense!’ 

“ Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘ En I ’ll rush ’roun’ ’mungs’ de bushes, en 
drive out Pa’tridges fer you, en we ’ll have mo’ fun dan w’at you 
kin shake a stick at.’ 

“Mr. Hawk sorter study ’bout dis, en Brer Rabbit, he beg en 
he ’splain, en de long en de short un it wuz,” said Uncle Remus, 
embracing his knee with his hands, “dat Brer Rabbit tuck’n git 
loose, en he ain’t git no bigger, en needer is he druv no Pa’tridges 
fer Mr. Hawk.” 

; “De Lord he’p my soul!” exclaimed ’Tildy, and this was the 
only comment made upon this extraordinary story. 


LXVI 

THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD 

All this talk about Hawks and Buzzards evidently reminded 
Daddy Jack of another story. He began to shake his head and 
mumble to himself; and, finally, when he looked around and 
found that he had attracted the attention of the little company, 
he rubbed his chin and grinned until his yellow teeth shone in the 
firelight like those of some wild animal, while his small eyes 
glistened under their heavy lids with a suggestion of cunning not 
unmixed with ferocity. 

“Talk it out, Brer Jack,” said Uncle Remus; “talk it out. All 
nex’ week we’ll be a-fixin’ up ’bout Chris’mus. Mars Jeems, he’s 
a-comin’ up, en Miss Sally ’ll have lots er yuther comp’ny. 
’Tildy yer, she’ll be busy, en dish yer little chap, he won’t have 

312 


THE WISE BIRD AND FOOLISH BIRD 


no time fer ter be settin’ up wid de ole niggers, en Sis Tempy, she’ll 
have ’er han’s full, en ole Remus, he’ll be a-pirootin’ ’roun’ 
huntin’ fer dat w’at he kin pick up. Time ’s a-passin’, Brer Jack, 
en we all er passin’ wid it. Des whirl in en gin us de upshot er 
w’at you got in yo’ min’.” 

“Enty!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, by way of approval. “One 
time dey bin two bud. One bin sma’t bud; da turrer, ’e bin fool 
bud. Dey bin lif in da sem countree; da bin use in da sem swamp. 
Da sma’t bud, ’e is bin come ’pon da fool bud; ’e bin tahlk. 
’E bin say: — 

“‘Ki! you long in da leg, you deep in da craw. You bin ’tan* 
well; you bin las’ long tarn.’ 

“Fool bud, ’e look proud, *e toss *e head; *e say: — 

“‘Me no mekky no brag.’ 

“Sma’t bud, ’e say: — 

“ ‘Less we try see fer how long tarn we is kin go ’dout bittle un 
drink.’ 

“Fool bud, ’e ’tretch ’e neck, ’e toss ’e head; ’e say: — 

“‘All-a right; me beat-a you all day ebry day. Me beat-a 
you all da tarn.’ 

“Sma’t bud, ’e say: — 

“ ‘Ef you bin ’gree wit’ dis, less we tek we place. You git ’pon 
da crik-side en tekky one ho’n, I git ’pon da tree y-up dey, en 
tekky nurrer ho’n. Less we ’tan’ dey-dey tel we see how long tarn 
we is kin do ’dout bittle en drink. Wun I blow ’pon me ho’n dun 
you blow ’pon you’ ho’n fer answer me; me blow, you blow, dun 
we bote blow.’ 

“Fool bud walk ’bout big; ’e say: — 

“‘Me will do um!’ j 

“Nex’ day mornin’ come. Da sma’t bud bin tekky one ho n 
un fly ’pon da tree. De fool bud bin tekky one nurrer ho’n en set 
by da crik-side. Dey bin sta’t in fer starf deyse’f. Da fool bud, 
’e stay by da crik-side wey dey bin no’n t all fer eat; e no kin 

31S 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS; 

fin’ no bittle dey-dey. Sma’t bud git in da tree da y-ant en da 
bug swa’m in da bark plenty. ’E pick dem ant, ’e y-eat dem ant; 
’e pick dem bug, ’e y-eat dem bug. ’E pick tel ’e craw come full; 
he feel berry good. 

“Fool bud, ’e down by da crik-side. ’E set down, ’e come 
tire’; ’e ’tan’ up, ’e come tire’; ’e walk ’bout, ’e come tire’. 
’E ’tan’ ’pon one leg, he ’tan’ ’pon turrer; ’e pit ’e head need ’e 
wing; still he come tire’. Sma’t bud shed ’e y-eye; ’e feel berry 
good. Wun ’e come hongry, ’e pick ant, ’e pick bug, tel ’e hab 
plenty, toze dinner-time ’e pick up ’e ho’n, ’e toot um strong — 

“ * Tay-tay , tenando wanzando waneanzo J 9 

“Fool bud craw bin empty, but ’e hab win’. ’E tekky da 
ho’n, ’e blow berry well; he mek um say: — 

“ ‘ Tay-tay tenando wanzando olando l 9 

“Sma’t bud pick ant plenty; ’e git full up. ’E wait tel mos’ 
toze sundown; ’e blow ’pon da ho’n — 

“ ‘ Tay-tay tenando wanzando waneanzo ! 9 

“Fool bud mek answer, but ’e come weak; ’e yent hab eat 
nuttin’ ’t all. Soon nex’ day mornin’ sma’t bud tek ’e ho’n en 
toot um. ’E done bin eat, ’e done bin drink dew on da leaf. Fool 
bud, ’e toot um ho’n, ’e toot um slow. 

“Dinner-time, sma’t bud bin tek ’e ho’n en blow; ’e yent bin 
honkry no’n’t all; ’e hab good feelin’. Fool bud toot um ho’n; 
’e toot um slow. Night tarn come, ’e no toot um no mo’. Sma’t 
bud come down, ’e fin’ um done gone dead. 

“Watch dem ’ceitful folks; ’e bin do you bad .” 1 

' 1 Mrs. H. S. Barclay, of Darien, who sends this story, says it was told by a native 
African woman, of good intelligence, who claimed to be a princess. She had an eagle 
tattoed on her bosom — a sign of royalty. 


314 


OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH 


LXVII 

OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH 

“Dat tale,” said Uncle Remus, “puts me in min’ er de time w’en 
ole Brer Tarrypin had a tussel wid Brer Mink. Hit seem lak,” 
he went on, in response to inquiries from the little boy, “dat dey 
bofe live ’roun’ de water so much en so long dat dey git kinder 
stuck up long wid it. Leasways dat ’uz de trouble wid Brer Mink. 
He jump in de water en swim en dive twel he ’gun ter b’leeve 
dey wa’n’t nobody kin hoi’ der han’ long wid ’im. 

“One day Brer Mink ’uz gwine long down de creek wid a nice 
string er fish swingin’ on he walkin’-cane, w’en who should he 
meet up wid but ole Brer Tarrypin. De creeturs ’uz all hail feller 
wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en no sooner is he seed Brer Mink dan he 
bow ’im howdy. Ole Brer Tarrypin talk ’way down in he th’oat 
lak he got bad col’. He ’low: — 

“‘Heyo, Brer Mink! Whar you git all dem nice string er fish?’ 

“Brer Mink ’uz mighty up-en-spoken in dem days. He ’low, 
he did: — 

“‘Down dar in de creek, Brer Tarrypin.’ 

“Brer Tarrypin look ’stonish’. He say, sezee: — 

“‘Well, well, well! In de creek! Who’d er b’leev’d it?’ 

“Brer Mink, sezee: ‘Whar I gwine ketch urn, Brer Tarrypin, 
ef I ain’t ketch um in de creek?’ 

“Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: ‘Dat’s so, Brer Mink; but a 
highlan’ man lak you gwine in de creek atter fish! Hit looks 
tumble, Brer IMink — dat w at it do; hit des looks turrible! 

“Brer Mink, sezee: ‘Looks er no looks, dar whar I got um.’ 

“Brer Tarrypin sorter sway he head fum side ter side, en 
’low: — 

“‘Ef dat de case, Brer Mink, den sho’ly you mus’ be one er 
dem ar kinder creeturs w’at usen ter de water. 

315 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

“‘Dat’s me,’ sez Brer Mink, sezee. 

“‘Well, den,’ sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, ‘I’m a highlan’ man 
myse’f, en it’s bin a mighty long time sence I got my foots wet, 
but I don’t min’ goin’ in washin’ ’long wid you. Ef youer de man 
you sez you is, you kin outdo me,’ sezee. 

“Brer Mink, sezee: ‘How we gwine do, Brer Tarrypin?’ 

“Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: ‘We ’ull go down dar ter de creek, 
en de man w’at kin stay und’ de water de longest, let dat man 
walk off wid dat string er fish.’ 

“Brer Mink, sezee: ‘I’m de ve’y man you bin lookin’ fer.’ 

“Brer Mink say he don’t wanter put it off a minnit. Go he 
would, en go he did. Dey went down ter creek en make der 
’rangerments. Brer Mink lay he fish down on der bank, en ’im en 
ole Brer Tarrypin wade in. Brer Tarrypin he make great ’mira¬ 
tion ’bout how col’ he water is. He flinch, he did, en ’low: — 

“‘Ow, Brer Mink! Dish yer water feel mighty col’ and’t ain’t 
no mo’n up ter my wais’. Goodness knows how she gwine feel 
w’en she git up und’ my chin.’ 

“Dey wade in, dey did, en Brer Tarrypin say, sezee: — 

“‘Now, den, Brer Mink, we’ll make a dive, en de man w’at 
stay und’ de water de longest dat man gits de fish.’ 

“ Brer Mink ’low dat’s de way he look at it, en den Brer Tarrypin 
gun de wud, en und’ dey went. Co’se,” said Uncle Remus, after 
a little pause, “Brer Tarrypin kin stay down in de water longer’n 
Brer Mink, en Brer Mink mought er know’d it. Dey stay en dey 
stay, twel bimeby Brer Mink bleedz ter come up, en he tuck’n 
kotch he breff, he did, lak he mighty glad fer ter git back ag’in. 
Den atter w’ile Brer Tarrypin stuck he nose out er de water, en 
den Brer Mink say Brer Tarrypin kin beat ’im. Brer Tarrypin 
’low: — 

“ ‘No, Brer Mink; hit’s de bes’ two out er th’ee. Ef I beats you 
dis time den de fish, deyer mine; ef I gits beated, den we kin take 
’n’er trial.’ 


316 


OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH 


“ Wid dat, down dey went, but Brer Tarrypin ain’t mo’n dove 
’fo’ up he come, en w’iles Brer Mink ’uz down dar honin’ fer 
fresh a’r, he tuck’n gobble up de las’ one er de fish, ole Brer Tarry- 
pin did. He gobble up de fish, en he ’uz fixin’ fer ter pick he toof, 
but by dis time Brer Mink bleedz ter come up, en ole Brer Tarry- 
pin, he tuck’n slid down in de water. He slid so slick,” said Uncle 
Remus, with a chuckle, “ dat he ain’t lef’ a bubble. He ain’t stay 
down long, n’er, ’fo’ he come up en he make lak he teetotally out 
er win’. 

“Ole Brer Tarrypin come up, he did, en look ’roun’, en ’fo’ 
Brer Mink kin say a wud, he holler out: — 

“‘Youer nice man, Brer Mink! Youer mighty nice man!’ 

“‘W’at I done now, Brer Tarrypin?’ 

“‘Don’t ax me. Look up dar whar you bin eatin’ dem fish en 
den ax yo’se’f. Youer mighty nice man!’ 

“Brer Mink look ’roun’ en, sho’ ’nuff, de fish done gone. Ole 
Brer Tarrypin keep on talkin’: — 

“‘You tuck’n come up fust, en w’iles I bin down dar in de 
water, nat’ally achin’ fer lack er win’, yer you settin’ up chawin’ 
on de fish w’ich dey oughter bin mine! ’ 

“Brer Mink stan’ ’im down dat he ain’t eat dem fish; he ’ny 
it ter de las’, but ole Brer Tarrypin make out he don’t b’leeve ’im. 
He say, sezee: — 

“‘You’ll keep gwine on dis a-way, twel atter w’ile you’ll be 
wuss’n Brer Rabbit. Don’t tell me you ain’t git dem fish, Brer 
Mink, ’kaze you know you is.’ 

“ Hit sorter make Brer Mink feel proud ’kaze ole Brer Tarrypin 
mix ’im up wid Brer Rabbit, ’kaze Brer Rabbit wuz a mighty man 
in dem days, en he sorter laugh, Brer Mink did, lak he know 
mo’ dan he gwine tell. Ole Brer Tarrypin keep on grumblin’. 

“‘I ain’t gwine ter git mad long wid you. Brer Mink, ’kaze 
hit’s a mighty keen trick, but you oughter be ’shame’ yo’se’f fer 
ter be playin’ tricks on a ole man lak me dat you ought! 

317 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“ Wid dat ole Brer Tarrypin went shufflin’ off, en atter he git 
outer sight he draw’d back in he house en shot de do’ en laugh 
en laugh twel dey wa’n’t no fun in laughin’.” 


LXVIII 

BRER FOX MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE 

The next time the little boy had an opportunity to visit Uncle 
Remus the old man was alone, but he appeared to be in good 
spirits. He was cobbling away upon what the youngster recog¬ 
nized as ’Tildy’s Sunday shoes, and singing snatches of a song 
something like this: — 

“0 Mr. Rabbit l yo* eye mighty big — 

Yes, my Lord 1 dey er made fer ter see; 

0 Mr. Rabbit! yo* tail mighty short — 

Yes, my Lord! hit des fits me 1 ” 

The child waited to hear more, but the song was the same thing 
over and over again — always about Brother Rabbit’s big eyes 
and his short tail. After a while Uncle Remus acknowledged the 
presence of his little partner by remarking: — 

“Well, sir, we er all yer. Brer Jack and Sis Tempy en dat ar 
’Tildy nigger may be a-pacin’ ’roun’ lookin’ in de fence-cornders 
fer Chris’mus, but me en you en ole Brer Rabbit, we er all yer, 
en ef we ain’t right on de spot, we er mighty close erroun’. Yas¬ 
ser, we is dat; mo’ speshually ole Brer Rabbit, wid he big eye 
and he short tail. Don’t tell me ’bout Brer Rabbit!” exclaimed 
Uncle Remus, with a great apparent enthusiasm, “’kaze dey 
ain’t no use er talkin’ ’bout dat creetur.” 

The little boy was very anxious to know why. 

“Well, I tell you,” said the old man. “One time dey wuz a 
monst’us dry season in de settlement whar all de creeturs live at, 
en drinkin’-water got mighty skace. De creeks got low, en de 

318 


BRER FOX MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE 


branches went dry, en all de springs make der disappearance 
’cep’n one great big un whar all de creeturs drunk at. Dey’d all 
meet dar, dey would, en de bigges’ ’ud drink fus’, en by de time 
de big uns all done swaje der thuss 1 dey wa’n’t a drap lef fer de 
little uns skacely. 

“ Co’se Brer Rabbit ’uz on de happy side. Ef anybody gwine 
git water Brer Rabbit de man. De creeturs ’ud see he track 
’roun’ de spring, but dey ain’t nev’ ketch ’im. Hit got so atter 
w’ile dat de big creeturs ’ud crowd Brer Fox out, en den’t wa’n’t 
long ’fo’ he hunt up Brer Rabbit en ax ’im w’at he gwine do. 

“BrerRabbit, he sorter study, en den he up ’n tell Brer Fox fer 
ter go home en rub some ’lasses all on hisse’f en den go out en 
waller in de leafs. Brer Fox ax w’at he mus’ do den, en Brer Rab¬ 
bit say he mus’ go down by de spring, en w’en de creeturs come 
ter de spring fer ter git dey water, he mus’ jump out at um, en den 
atter dat he mus’ waller lak he one er dem ar kinder varment w’at 
got bugs on um. 

“Brer Fox, he put out fer home, he did, en w’en he git dar he 
run ter de cubbud 2 en des gawm hisse’f wid ’lasses, en den he 
went out in de bushes, he did, en waller in de leafs en trash twel 
he look mos’ bad ez Brer Rabbit look w’en he play Wull-er-de- 
Wust on de creeturs. 

“W’en Brer Fox git hisse’f all fix up, he went down ter de 
spring en hide hisse’f. Bimeby all de creeturs come atter der 
water, en w’iles dey ’uz a-scuffin’ en a-hunchin’, en a-pushin’ en 
a-scrougin’, Brer Fox he jump out’n de bushes, en sorter switch 
hisse’f ’roun’, en, bless yo’ soul, he look lak de Ole Boy. 

“Brer Wolf tuck’n see ’im fus’, en he jump spang over Brer 
B’ar head. Brer B’ar, he lip back, en ax who dat, en des time he 
do dis de t’er creeturs dey tuck’n make a break, dey did, lak 
punkins rollin’ down hill, en mos’ ’fo’ youk’n wink yo’ eye-ball. 
Brer Fox had de range er de spring all by hisse’f. 

1 Assuaged their thirst. 2 Cupboard. 


319 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“Yit’t wa’n’t fur long, ’kaze ’fo’ de creeturs mov’d fur, dey 
tuck’n tu’n ’roun’, dey did, en crope back fer ter see w’at dat ar 
skeery lookin’ varment doin’. W’en dey git back in seein’ dis- 
tuns dar ’uz Brer Fox walkin’ up en down switchin’ hisse’f. 

“De creeturs dunner w’at ter make un ’im. Dey watch, en 
Brer Fox march; dey watch, en he march. Hit keep on dis a-way 
twel bimeby Brer Fox ’gun ter waller in de water, en right dar,” 
continued Uncle Remus, leaning back to laugh, “right dar ’uz 
whar Brer Rabbit had ’im. Time he ’gun ter waller in de water 
de ’lasses ’gun ter melt, en ’t wa’n’t no time skacely ’fo’ de 
’lasses en de leafs done all wash off, en dar ’uz ole Brer Fox des ez 
natchul ez life. 

“De fus’ Brer Fox know ’bout de leafs cornin’ off, he year Brer 
B’ar holler on top er de hill: — 

“‘You head ’im off down dar, Brer Wolf, en I’ll head ’im off 
’roun’ yer!’ 

“Brer Fox look ’roun’ en he see all de leafs done come off, en 
wid dat he make a break, en he wa’n’t none too soon, n’er, ’kaze 
little mo’ en de creeturs ’ud ’a’ kotch ’im.” 

Without giving the little boy time to ask any questions. Uncle 
Remus added another verse to his Rabbit song, and harped on it 
for several minutes: — 

“0 Mr. Rabbit! yo* year mighty long — 

Yes, my Lord l dey made fer ter las*; 

0 Mr. Rabbit! yo* toof mighty sharp — 

Yes, my Lord l dey cuts down grass l** 


320 


BRER FOX’S FISH-TRAP 


LXIX 

BRER FOX’S FISH-TRAP 

The little boy wanted Uncle Remus to sing some more; but before 
the old man could either consent or refuse, the notes of a horn 
were heard in the distance. Uncle Remus lifted his hand to com¬ 
mand silence, and bent his head in an attitude of attention. 

“Des listen at dat!” he exclaimed, with some show of indigna¬ 
tion. “Dat ain’t nothin’ in de roun’ worl’ but ole man Plato wid 
dat tin hawn er his’n, en I boun’ you he’s a-drivin’ de six mule 
waggin, en de waggin full er niggers fum de River place, en let 
’lone dat, I boun’ you deyer niggers strung out behime de wag¬ 
gin fer mo’n a mile, en deyer all er cornin’ yer fer ter eat us all 
out’n house en home, des ’kaze dey year folks say Chris’mus mos’ 
yer. Hit’s mighty kuse unter me dat ole man Plato ain’t done 
toot dat hawn full er holes long ’fo’ dis. 

“Yit I ain’t blamin’ um,” Uncle Remus went on, with a sigh, 
after a little pause. “Dem ar niggers bin livin’ ’way off dar on de 
River place* whar dey ain’t no w’ite folks twel dey er done in 
about run’d wil’. I ain’t a-blamin’ um, dat I ain’t.” 

Plato’s horn — a long tin bugle — was by no means unmusical. 
Its range was limited, but in Plato’s hands its few notes were both 
powerful and sweet. Presently the wagon arrived, and for a few 
minutes all was confusion, the negroes on the Home place run¬ 
ning to greet the new-comers, who were mostly their relatives. 
A stranger hearing the shouts and outcries of these people would 
have been at a loss to account for the commotion. 

Even Uncle Remus went to his cabin door, and, with the little 
boy by his side, looked out upon the scene, — a tumult lit up by 
torches of resinous pine. The old man and the child were recog¬ 
nized, and for a few moments the air was filled with cries of: 

“Howdy, Unk Remus! Howdy, little Marster!” 

321 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


After a while Uncle Remus closed his door, laid away his tools, 
and drew his chair in front of the wide hearth. The child went 
and stood beside him, leaning his head against the old negro’s 
shoulder, and the two — old age and youth, one living in the 
Past and the other looking forward only to the Future — gazed 
into the bed of glowing embers illuminated by a thin, flickering 
flame. Probably they saw nothing there, each being busy with 
his own simple thoughts; but their shadows, enlarged out of all 
proportion, and looking over their shoulders from the wall behind 
them, must have seen something, for, clinging together, they 
kept up a most incessant pantomime; and Plato’s horn, which 
sounded again to call the negroes to supper after their journey, 
though it aroused Uncle Remus and the child from the contem¬ 
plation of the fire, had no perceptible effect upon the Shadows. 

“Dar go de vittles!” said Uncle Remus, straightening himself. 
“Dey tells me dat dem ar niggers on de River place got appetite 
same ez a mule. Let ’lone de vittles w’at dey gits from Mars 
John, dey eats oodles en oodles er fish. Ole man Plato say dat de 
nigger on de River place w’at ain’t got a fish-baskit in de river er 
some intruss 1 in a fish-trap ain’t no ’count w’atsomever.” 

Here Uncle Remus suddenly slapped himself upon the leg, and 
laughed uproariously; and when the little boy asked him what 
the matter was, he cried out: — 

“Well, sir! Ef I ain’t de fergittenest ole nigger twix’ dis en 
Phillimerdelphy! Yer’t is mos’ Chris’mus en I ain’t tell you 
’bout how Brer Rabbit do Brer Fox w’ence dey bofe un um live on 
de river. I dunner w’at de name er sense gittin’ de marter ’long 
wid me.” 

Of course the little boy wanted to know all about it, and Uncle 
Remus proceeded: — 

“One time Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit live de on river. Atter 
dey bin livin’ dar so long a time, Brer Fox ’low dat he got a mighty 
1 Interest. 

322 


BRER FOX’S FISH-TRAP 


hankerin’ atter sump’n’ ’sides fresh meat, en he say he b’leeve he 
make ’im a fish-trap. Brer Rabbit say he wish Brer Fox mighty 
well, but he ain’t honin’ atter fish hisse’f, en ef he is he ain’t got 
no time fer ter make no fish-trap. 

“No marter fer dat, Brer Fox, he tuck’n got ’im out some 
timber, he did, en he wuk nights fer ter make dat trap. Den w’en 
he git it done, he tuck’n hunt ’im a good place fer ter set it, en de 
way he sweat over dat ar trap wuz a sin — dat’t wuz. 

“Yit atter so long a time, he got ’er sot, en den he tuck’n 
wash he face en han’s en go home. All de time he ’uz fixin’ un it 
up, Brer Rabbit ’uz settin’ on de bank watchin’ ’im. He sot dar, 
he did, en play in de ^water, en cut switches fer ter w’ip at de 
snake-doctors , 1 en all dat time Brer Fox, he pull en haul en tote 
rocks fer ter hoi’ dat trap endurin’ a freshet. 

“Brer Fox went home en res’ hisse’f, en bimeby he go down fer 
ter see ef dey any fish in he trap. He sorter fear’d er snakes, but 
he feel ’roun’ en he feel ’roun’, yit he ain’t feel no fish. Den he go 
off. 

“Bimeby, ’long todes de las’ er de week, he go down en feel 
’roun’ ’g’in, yit he ain’t feel no fish. Hit keep on dis a-way twel 
Brer Fox git sorter fag out. He go en he feel, but dey ain’t no 
fish dar. Atter w’ile, one day, he see de signs whar somebody bin 
robbin’ he trap, en he ’low ter hisse’f dat he’ll des in ’bout watch 
en fine out who de somebody is. 

“ Den he tuck’n got in he boat en paddle und’ de bushes on de 
bank en watch he fish-trap. He watch all de mornin ; nobody 
ain’t come. He watch all endurin’ er atter dinner; nobody ain t 
come. ’Long todes night, w’en he des ’bout makin ready fer ter 
paddle off home, he year fuss on t’er side de river, en lo en be- 
holes, yer come Brer Rabbit polin’ a boat right todes Brer Fox 
fish-trap. 

“Look lak he dunner how to use a paddle, en he des had im 

1 Dragon-flies. 

323 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

a long pole, en he’d stan’ up in de behime part er he boat, en put 
de een’ er de pole ’gin’ de bottom, en shove ’er right ahead. 

“Brer Fox git mighty mad w’en he see dis, but he watch en 
wait. He ’low ter hisse’f, he did, dat he kin paddle a boat 
pearter dan anybody kin pole um, en he say he sho’ly gwine 
ketch Brer Rabbit dis time. 

“Brer Rabbit pole up ter de fish-trap, en feel ’roun’ en pull out 
a great big mud-cat; den he retch in en pull out ’n’er big mud-cat; 
den he pull out a big blue cat, en it keep on dis a-way twel he git 
de finest mess er fish you mos’ ever laid yo’ eyes on. 

“Des ’bout dat time, Brer Fox paddle out fum und’ de bushes, 
en make todes Brer Rabbit, en he holler out: — 

“‘Ah-yi! Youer de man w’at bin robbin’ my fish-trap dis long 
time! I got you dis time! Oh, you nee’nter try ter run! I got 
you dis time sho’!’ f \ 

“No sooner said dan no sooner done. Brer Rabbit fling he fish 
in he boat en grab up de pole en push off, en he had mo’ fun 
gittin’ ’way fum dar dan he y-ever had befo’ in all he born days 
put terge’er.” 

“Why didn’t Brother Fox catch him, Uncle Remus?” asked 
the little boy. 

“ShooI Honey, you sho’ly done lose yo’ min’ ’bout Brer 
Rabbit.” 

“Well, I don’t see how he could get away.” 

“ Ef you’d er bin dar you’d er seed it, dat you would. Brer Fox, 
he wuz dar, en he seed it, en Brer Rabbit, he seed it, en e’en 
down ter ole Brer Bull-frog, a-settin’ on de bank, he seed it. Now, 
den,” continued Uncle Remus, spreading out the palm of his left 
hand like a map and pointing at it with the forefinger of his right, 
“w’en Brer Rabbit pole he boat, he bleedz ter set in de behime 
een’, en w’en Brer Fox paddle he boat, he bleedz ter set in de be¬ 
hime een’. Dat bein’ de state er de condition, how Brer Fox 
gwine ketch ’im? 1 ain’t ’sputin’ but w’at he kin paddle pearter 

324 




HE GIT DE FINEST MESS ER FISH YOU MOS’ EVER LAID YO’ EYES ON 
































































































































































BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN 


dan Brer Rabbit, but de long en de shorts un it is, de pearter 
Brer Fox paddle de pearter Brer Rabbit go.” 

The little boy looked puzzled. “Well, I don’t see how,” he 
exclaimed. 

“Well, sir!” continued Uncle Remus, “w’en de nose er Brer 
Fox boat git close ter Brer Rabbit boat all Brer Rabbit got ter 
do in de roun’ worl’ is ter take he pole en put it ’gin’ Brer Fox 
boat en push hisse’f out de way. De harder he push Brer Fox 
boat back, de pearter he push he own boat forrerd. Hit look 
mighty easy ter ole Brer Bull-frog settin’ on de bank, en all Brer 
Fox kin do is ter shake he fist en grit he toof, w’iles Brer Rabbit 
sail off wid de fish.” 


LXX 

BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN 

The arrival of the negroes from the River place added greatly to 
the enthusiasm with which the Christmas holidays were antici¬ 
pated on the Home place, and the air was filled with laughter day 
and night. Uncle Remus appeared to be very busy, though there 
was really nothing to be done except to walk around and scold at 
everybody and everything, in a good-humored way, and this the 
old man could do to perfection. 

The night before Christmas eve, however, the little boy saw a 
light in Uncle Remus’s cabin, and he interpreted it as in some 
sort a signal of invitation. He found the old man sitting by the 
fire and talking to himself: — 

“Ef Mars John and Miss Sally ’specks me fer ter keep all deze 
yer niggers straight deyer gwine ter be diserp’inted, — dat dey 
is. Ef dey wuz ’lev’m Remuses’t would n’t make no dittunce, 
let ’long one po’ ole cripple creetur lak me. Dey ain’t done no 
damage yit, but I boun’ you by termorrer night dey 11 tu n loose 
en tu’n de whole place upside down,en t’ar it up by de roots, en den 

325 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


atter hit’s all done gone en done, yer’ll come Miss Sally a-layin’ 
it all at ole Remus do’. Nigger ain’t got much chance in deze yer 
low-groun’s, mo’ speshually w’en dey gits ole en cripple lak I is.” 

“What are they going to do to-morrow night, Uncle Remus?” 
the little boy inquired. 

“Now w’at make you ax dat, honey?” exclaimed the old man, 
in a grieved tone. “You knows mighty well how dey done las’ 
year en de year ’fo’ dat. Dey tuck’n cut up ’roun’ yer wuss’n ef 
dey ’uz wil’ creeturs, en termorrer night dey’ll be a-hollin’ en 
whoopin’ en singin’ en dancin’ ’fo’ it git dark good. I wish w’en 
you go up ter de big house you be so good ez ter tell Miss Sally 
dat ef she want any peace er min’ she better git off’n de place 
en stay off twel atter deze yer niggers git dey fill er Chris’mus. 
Goodness knows, she can’t ’speck a ole cripple nigger lak me fer 
ter ketch holt en keep all deze yer niggers straight.” 

Uncle Remus would have kept up his vague complaints, but 
right in the midst of them Daddy Jack stuck his head in at the 
door, and said: — 

“Oona bin fix da’ ’Tildy gal shoe. Me come fer git dem shoe; 
me come fer pay you fer fix dem shoe.” 

Uncle Remus looked at the grinning old African in astonish¬ 
ment. Then suddenly the truth dawned upon him and he broke 
into a loud laugh. Finally he said: — 

“ Come in, Brer Jack! Come right ’long in. I’m sorter po’ly my- 
se’f, jut I ’ll make out ter make you welcome. Dey wuz a quarter 
dollar gwine inter my britches-pocket on de ’count er dem ar 
shoes, but ef youer gwine ter pay fer um ’t won’t be but a 
sev’mpunce.” 

Somehow or other Daddy Jack failed to relish Uncle Remus’s 
tone and manner, and he replied, with some display of irritation: 

“ Shuh-shuh! Me no come in no’n ’t all. Me no pay you 
se’mpunce. Me come fer pay you fer dem shoe; me come fer tek 
um ’way fum dey-dey.” 


326 


BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN 


“I dunno ’bout dat, Brer Jack, I dunno ’bout dat. De las’ 
time I year you en ’Tildy gwine on, she wuz ’pun de p’ints er 
knockin’ yo’ brains out. Now den, s’pozen I whirls in en gins 
you de shoes, en den ’Tildy come ’long en ax me ’bout um, w’at 
I gwine say ter ’Tildy?” 

“Me pay you fer dem shoe,” said Daddy Jack, seeing the ne¬ 
cessity of argument, “un me tek um wey da lil ’Tildy gal bin 
stay. She tell me fer come git-a dem shoe.” 

“Well, den, yer dey is,” said Uncle Remus, sighing deeply as 
he handed Daddy Jack the shoes. “Yer dey is, en youer mo’ dan 
welcome, dat you is. But spite er dat, dis yer quarter you hingin’ 
’way on um would er done you a sight mo’ good dan w’at dem 
shoes is.” 

This philosophy was altogether lost upon Daddy Jack, who 
took the shoes and shuffled out with a grunt of satisfaction. He 
had scarcely got out of hearing before ’Tildy pushed the door 
open and came in. She hesitated a moment, and then, seeing that 
Uncle Remus paid no attention to her, she sat down and picked 
at her fingers with an air quite in contrast to her usual “uppish¬ 
ness,” as Uncle Remus called it. 

“Unk Remus,” she said, after awhile, in a subdued tone, “is 
dat old Affikin nigger bin yer atter dem ar shoes?” 

“Yas, chile,” replied Uncle Remus, with a long-drawn sigh, 
“he done bin yer en got um en gone. Yas, honey, he done got um 
en gone; done come en pay fer’m, en got um en gone. I sez, sez 
I, dat I wish you all mighty well, en he tuck’n tuck de shoes en 
put. Yas, chile, he done got um en gone.” 

Something in Uncle Remus’s sympathetic and soothing tone 
seemed to exasperate ’Tildy. She dropped her hands in her lap, 
straightened herself up and exclaimed: — 

“Yas, I’m is gwine ter marry dat ole nigger an’ I don’t keer 
who knows it. Miss Sally say she don t keer, en t er folks may 
keer ef dey wanter, en much good der keerin’ ’ll do um.” 

327 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

’Tildy evidently expected Uncle Remus to make some char¬ 
acteristic comment, for she sat and watched him with her lips 
firmly pressed together and her eyelids half-closed, — an attitude 
of defiance significant enough when seen, but difficult to describe. 
But the old man made no response to the challenge. He seemed 
to be very busy. Presently ’Tildy went on: — 

“Somebody bleedz to take keer er dat ole nigger, en I dunner 
who gwine ter do it ef I don’t. Somebody bleedz ter look atter 
’im. Good win’ come ’long hit ’ud in about blow ’im ’way ef dey 
wa’n’t somebody close ’roun’ fer ter take keer un ’im. Let ’lone 
dat, I ain’t gwineter have dat ole nigger man f’ever ’n ’ternally 
trottin’ atter me. I tell you de Lord’s trufe, Unk Remus,” con¬ 
tinued ’Tildy, growing confidential, “I ain’t had no peace er min’ 
sence dat ole nigger man come on dis place. He des bin a-pacin’ 
at my heels de whole blessed time, en I bleedz ter marry ’im 
fer git rid un ’im.” 

“Well,” said Uncle Remus, “hit don’t s’prize me. You marry 
en den youer des lak Brer Fox wid he bag. You know w’at you 
put in it, but you dunner w’at you got in it.” 

’Tildy flounced out without waiting for an explanation, but the 
mention of Brother Fox attracted the attention of the little boy, 
and he wanted to know what was in the bag, how it came to be 
there, and all about it. 

“Now, den,” said Uncle Remus, “hit’s a tale, en a mighty 
long tale at dat, but I ’ll des hatter cut it short, ’kaze termorrer 
night you’ll wanter be a-settin’ up lis’nen at de kyar’n’s on er 
dem ar niggers, w’ich I b’leeve in my soul dey done los’ all de 
sense dey ever bin bornded wid. 

“One time Brer Fox wuz gwine on down de big road, en he look 
ahead en he see ole Brer Tarrypin makin’ he way on todes home. 
Brer Fox ’low dis a mighty good time fer ter nab ole Brer Tarry- 
pin, en no sooner is he thunk it dan he put out back home, w’ich 
’t wa’n’t but a little ways, en he git ’im a bag. He come back, he 

328 


BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN 


did, en he run up behime ole Brer Tarrypin en flip im in de bag 
en sling de bag ’cross he back en go gallin -up back home. 

“Brer Tarrypin, he holler, but’t ain’t do no good, he rip en 
he r’ar, but’t ain’t do no good. Brer Fox des keep on a-gwine, en 
’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ he had ole Brer Tarrypin slung up in de cornder 
in de bag, en de bag tied un hard en fas’. 

“But w’iles all dis gwine on,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, em¬ 
ploying the tone and manner of some country preacher he had 
heard, “whar wuz ole Brer Rabbit? Yasser — dats it, whar wuz 
he? En mo’n dat, w’at you ’speck he ’uz doin’ en whar you 
reckon he wer’ gwine? Dat’s de way ter talk it; whar bouts wuz 

he?” , ., 

The old man brought his right hand down upon his knee with 
a thump that jarred the tin-plate and cups on the mantel-shelf, 
and then looked around with a severe frown to see what the 
chairs and the work-bench, and the walls and the rafters, had to 
say in response to his remarkable argument. He sat thus in a 
waiting attitude a moment, and then, finding that no response 
came from anything or anybody, his brow gradually cleared, an 
a smile of mingled pride and satisfaction spread over his face, as 


he continued in a more natural tone: — . 

“ Youk’n b’leeve me er not b’leeve des ez youer min ter, but 
dat ar long-year creetur —dat ar hoppity-skippity — dat ar 
up-en-down-en-sailin’-’roun’ Brer Rabbit, w ich you in year 
me call he name ’fo’ dis, he wa’n’t so mighty fur off w lies Brer 
Fox gwine ’long wid dat ar bag slung ’cross he back. Let lone 
dat, Brer Rabbit ’uz settin’ right dar in de bushes by de side er 
de road, en w’ence he see Brer Fox go trottin by, he ax hisse f 
w’at is it dat creetur got in dat ar bag. , , 

“He ax hisse’f, he did, but he dunno. He wunder en he wun- 
der yit de mo’ he wunder de mo’ he dunno. Brer Fox, he go 
trottin’ by, en Brer Rabbit, he sot in de bushes en wunder. 
Bimeby he ’low ter hisse’f, he did, dat Brer Fox ain’t got no busi- 


329 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

ness fer ter be trottin’ ’long down de road, totin’ doin’s w’ich 
yuther folks dunner w’at dey is, en he ’low dat dey won’t be no 
great harm done ef he take atter Brer Fox en fine out w’at he got 
in dat ar bag. 

“Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he put out. He ain’t got no bag fer 
ter tote, en he pick up he foots mighty peart. Mo’n dat, he tuck’n 
tuck a nigh-cut, en by de time Brer Fox git home, Brer Rabbit 
done had time fer ter go ’roun’ by de watermillion-patch endo 
some er he devilment, en den atter dat he tuck’n sot down in de 
bushes whar he kin see Brer Fox w’en he come home. 

“Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid de bag slung ’cross he back. 
He onlatch de do’, he did, en he go in en sling Brer Tarrypin down 
in de cornder, en set down front er de h’ath fer ter res’ hisse’f.” 

Here Uncle Remus paused to laugh in anticipation of what was 
to follow. 

“Brer Fox ain’t mo’n lit he pipe,” the old man continued, after 
a tantalizing pause, “’fo’ Brer Rabbit stick he head in de do’ 
en holler: — 

“‘Brer Fox! 0 Brer Fox! You better take yo’ walkin’-cane en 
run down yan. Cornin’ ’long des now I year a mighty fuss, en I 
look ’roun’ en dar wuz a whole passel er folks in yo’ watermillion- 
patch des a-tromplin’ ’roun’ en a-t’arin’ down. I holler’d at um, 
but dey ain’t pay no ’tention ter little man lak I is. Make ’a’se, 
Brer Fox! make ’a’se! Git yo’ cane en run down dar. I’d go wid 
you myse’f, but my ole ’oman ailin’ en I bleedz ter be makin’ 
my way todes home. You better make ’a’se. Brer Fox, ef you 
wanter git de good er yo’ watermillions. Run, Brer Fox! run!’ 
h “Wid dat Brer Rabbit dart back in de bushes, en Brer Fox 
drap he pipe en grab he walkin’-cane en put out fer he water¬ 
million-patch, w’ich’t wer’ down on de branch; en no sooner is 
he gone dan ole Brer Rabbit come out de bushes en make he way 
in de house. 

“He go so easy dat he ain’t make no fuss; he look ’roun’ en dar 
330 


BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN 


wuz de bag in de cornder. He kotch holt er de bag en sorter feel 
un it, en time he do dis, he year sump’n’ holler: — 

“‘Ow! Go ’way! Lem me ’lone! Tu’n me loose! Ow!’ 

“Brer Rabbit jump back ’stonish’d. Den ’fo’ you kin wink yo’ 
eye-ball, Brer Rabbit slap hisse’f on de leg en break out in a 
laugh. Den he up’n ’low: — 

“‘Ef I ain’t make no mistakes, dat ar kinder fuss kin come 
fum nobody in de roun’ worl’ but ole Brer Tarrypin.’ 

“Brer Tarrypin, he holler, sezee: ‘Ain’t dat Brer Rabbit?’ 

“‘De same,’ sezee. 

“‘Den whirl in en tu’n me out. Meal dus’ in my th’oat, grit 
in my eye, en I ain’t kin git my breff, skacely. Tu’n me out, Brer 
Rabbit.’ 

“Brer Tarrypin talk lak somebody down in a well. Brer Rab¬ 
bit, he holler back: — 

‘“Youer lots smarter dan w’at I is, Brer Tarrypin — lots 
smarter. Youer smarter en pearter. Peart ez I come yer, you is 
ahead er me. I know how you git in de bag, but I dunner how de 
name er goodness you tie yo’se’f up in dar, dat I don’t.’ 

“Brer Tarrypin try ter splain, but Brer Rabbit keep on 
laughin’, en he laugh twel he git he fill er laughin’; en den he 
tuck’n ontie de bag en take Brer Tarrypin out en tote ’im ’way 
off in de woods. Den, w’en he done dis, Brer Rabbit tuck’n run off 
en git a great big hornet-nes’ w’at he see w’en he cornin’ long—” 

“A hornet’s nest, Uncle Remus?” exclaimed the little boy, in 
amazement. 

“Tooby sho’, honey. ’T ain’t bin amont’ sence I brung you a 
great big hornet-nes’, en yer you is axin’ dat. Brer Rabbit tuck’n 
slap he han’ ’cross de little hole whar de hornets goes in at, en 
dar he had urn. Den he tuck’n tuck it ter Brer Fox house, en put 
it in de bag whar Brer Tarrypin bin. 

“He put de hornet-nes’ in dar,” continued Uncle Remus, 
lowering his voice, and becoming very grave, en den he tie up 

331 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


de bag des lak he fine it. Yit ’fo’ he put de bag back in de cornder, 
w’at do dat creetur do? I ain’t settin’ yer,” said the old man, 
seizing his chair with both hands, as if by that means to emphasize 
the illustration, “I ain’t settin’ yer ef dat ar creetur ain’t grab 
dat bag en slam it down ’g’in de flo’, en hit it ’g’in de side er de 
house twel he git dem ar hornets all stirred up, en den he put de 
bag back in de cornder, en go out in de bushes ter whar Brer 
Tarrypin waitin’, en den bofe un um sot out dar en wait fer ter 
see w’at de upshot gwine ter be. 

“Bimeby, yer come Brer Fox back fum he watermillion-patch 
en he look lak he mighty mad. He strak he cane down ’pun de 
groun’, en do lak he gwine take he revengeance out’n po’ ole Brer 
Tarrypin. He went in de do’, Brer Fox did, en shot it atter ’im. 
Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin lissen’, but dey ain’t year nothin’. 

“But bimeby, fus’ news you know, dey year de mos’ owdashus 
racket, tooby sho’. Seem lak, fum whar Brer Rabbit en Brer 
Tarrypin settin’ dat dey ’uz a whole passel er cows runnin’ ’roun’ 
in Brer Fox house. Dey year de cheers a-fallin’, en de table 
turnin’ over, en de crock’ry breakin’, en den de do’ flew’d open, 
en out come Brer Fox, a-squallin’ lak de Ole Boy wuz atter ’im. 
En sech a sight ez dem t’er creeturs seed den en dar ain’t never 
bin seed befo’ ner sence. 

“Dem ar hornets des swarmed on top er Brer Fox. ’Lev’m 
dozen un um ’ud hit at one time, en look lak dat ar creetur bleedz 
ter fine out fer hisse’f w’at pain en suffin’ is. Dey bit ’im en dey 
stung ’im, en fur ez Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin kin year’ im, dem 
hornets ’uz des a-nailin’ ’im. Gentermens! dey gun ’im binjer! 

“Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin, dey sot dar, dey did, en dey 
laugh en laugh, twel bimeby, Brer Rabbit roll over en grab he 
stomach, en holler: — 

“‘Don’t, Brer Tarrypin! don’t! One giggle mo’ en you’ll 
hatter tote me.’ 

“En dat ain’t all,” said Uncle Remus, raising his voice. “I 
332 


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 

know a little chap w’ich ef he set up yer ’sputin’ ’longer me en de 
t’er creeturs, he won’t have much fun termorrer night.” 

The hint was sufficient, and the little boy ran out laughing. 

LXXI 

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 

The day and the night before Christmas were full of pleasure for 
the little boy. There was pleasure in the big house, and pleasure 
in the humble cabins in the quarters. The peculiar manner in 
which the negroes celebrated the beginning of the holidays was 
familiar to the child’s experience, but strange to his appreci¬ 
ation, and he enjoyed everything he saw and heard with the 
ready delight of his years, — a delight, which, in this instance, 
had been trained and sharpened, if the expression may be used, in 
the small world over which Uncle Remus presided. 

The little boy had a special invitation to be present at the 
marriage of Daddy Jack and ’Tildy, and he went, accompanied 
by Uncle Remus and Aunt Tempy. It seemed to be a very curi¬ 
ous affair, but its incongruities made small impression upon the 
mind of the child. 

’Tildy wore a white dress and had a wreath of artificial flowers 
in her hair. Daddy Jack wore a high hat, which he persisted in 
keeping on his head during the ceremony, and a coat the tails of 
which nearly dragged the floor. His bright little eyes glistened 
triumphantly, and he grinned and bowed to everybody again and 
again. After it was all over, the guests partook of cake baked by 
Aunt Tempy, and persimmon beer brewed by Uncle Remus. 

It seemed, however, that ’Tildy was not perfectly happy; for, 
in response to a question asked by Aunt Tempy, she said: 

“Yes’m, I’m gwine down de country ’long wid my ole man, 
an’ I lay ef eve’ything don’t go right, I’m gwineter pick up en 
come right back.” 


333 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


“No-no!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, “’e no come bahck no’n 
’t all. ’E bin stay dey-dey wit’ ’e nice ole-a man.” 

“You put yo’ pennunce in dat!” said ’Tildy, scornfully. “Dey 
ain’t nobody kin hoi’ me w’en I takes a notion, ’cep’n hit’s Miss 
Sally; en, goodness knows, Miss Sally ain’t gwine ter be down dar.” 

“Who Miss Sally gwine put in de house?” Aunt Tempy asked. 

“Humph!” exclaimed ’Tildy, scornfully, “Miss Sally say she 
gwine take dat ar Darkess 1 nigger en put ’er in my place. En 
a mighty nice mess Darkess gwine ter make un it! Much she 
know ’bout waitin’ on w’ite folks! Many’s en many’s de time 
Miss Sally ’ll set down in ’er rockin’-cheer en wish fer ’Tildy — 
many’s de time.” 

*' This was ’Tildy’s grievance, — the idea that some one could 
be found to fill her place; and it is a grievance with which people 
of greater importance than the humble negro house-girl are more 
or less familiar. 

But the preparations for the holidays went on in spite of 
’Tildy’s grievance. A large platform, used for sunning wheat and 
seed cotton, was arranged by the negroes for their dance, and 
several wagon-loads of resinous pine — known as lightw T ood — 
were placed around about it in little heaps, so that the occasion 
might lack no element of brilliancy. 

At nightfall the heaps of lightwood were set on fire, and the 
little boy, who was waiting impatiently for Uncle Remus to come 
for him, could hear the negroes singing, dancing, and laughing. 
He was just ready to cry when he heard the voice of his venerable 
partner. 

“Is dey a’er passenger anywhar’s ’roun’ yer fer Thumptown? 
De stage done ready en de hosses a-prancin’. Ef dey’s a’er pas¬ 
senger ’roun’ yer, I lay he des better be makin’ ready fer ter go.” 

The old man walked up to the back piazza as he spoke, held 
out his strong arms, and the little boy jumped into them with an 
^ 1 Dorcas. 

334 


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 


exclamation of delight. The child’s mother gave Uncle Remus a 
shawl to wrap around the child, and this shawl was the cause of 
considerable trouble, for the youngster persisted in wrapping it 
around the old man’s head, and so blinding him that there was 
danger of his falling. Finally, he put the little boy down, took off 
his hat, raised his right hand, and said: — 

“Now, den, I bin a-beggin’ un you fer ter quit yo’ ’haveishness 
des long ez I’m a-gwinter, en I ain’t gwine beg you no mo’, ’kaze 
I’m des teetotally wo’ out wid beggin’, en de mo’ I begs de wuss 
you gits. Now I’m done! You des go yo’ ways en I ’ll go mine, en 
my way lays right spang back ter de big house whar Miss Sally 
is. Dat’s whar I’m a-gwine!” 

Uncle Remus started to the house with an exaggerated vigor 
of movement comical to behold; but, however comical it may 
have been, it had its effect. The little boy ran after him, caught 
him by the hand, and made him stop. 

“ Now, Uncle Remus, please don’t go back. I was just playing.” 

Uncle Remus’s anger was all pretence, but he managed to make 
it very impressive. 

“My playin’ days done gone too long ter talk bout. When I 
plays, I plays wid wuk, dat w’at I plays wid.” 

“Well,” said the child, who had tactics of his own, “if I can’t 
play with you, I don’t know who I am to play with.” 

This touched Uncle Remus in a very tender spot. He stopped 
in the path, took off his spectacles, wiped the glasses on his coat¬ 
tail, and said very emphatically: — 

“Now den, honey, des lissen at me. How de name er goodness 
kin you call dat playin’, w’ich er little mo’ en I’d er fell down on 
top er my head, en broke my neck en yone too? 

The child promised that he would be very good, and Uncle 
Remus picked him up, and the two made their way to where the 
negroes had congregated. They were greeted with cries of “ Dar’s 
UnkRemus!” “Howdy,UnkRemus!” “Yerdeyis!” “Oleman 

335 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 

Remus don’t sing; but w’en he do sing — gentermens! des go 
’way!” 

All this and much more, so that when Uncle Remus had placed 
the little boy upon a corner of the platform, and made him com¬ 
fortable, he straightened himself with a laugh and cried out: — 

“Howdy, boys! howdy all! I des come up fer ter jine in wid 
you fer one ’roun’ fer de sakes er ole times, ef no mo’.” 

“I boun’ fer Unk Remus!” some one said. “Now des hush en 
let Unk Remus ’lone!” exclaimed another. 

The figure of the old man, as he stood smiling upon the crowd 
of negroes, was picturesque in the extreme. He seemed to be 
taller than all the rest; and, notwithstanding his venerable ap¬ 
pearance, he moved and spoke with all the vigor of youth. He 
had always exercised authority over his fellow-servants. He had 
been the captain of the corn-pile, the stoutest at the log-rolling, 
the swiftest with the hoe, the neatest with the plough, and the 
plantation hands still looked upon him as their leader. 

Some negro from the River place had brought a fiddle, and, 
though it was a very feeble one, its screeching seemed to annoy 
Uncle Remus. 

“Put up dat ar fiddle!” he exclaimed, waving his hand. “Des 
put ’er up; she sets my toof on aidje. Put ’er up en les go back 
ter ole times. Dey ain’t no room fer no fiddle ’roun’ yer, ’kaze 
w’en you gits me started dat ar fiddle won’t be nowhars.” 

“Dat’s so,” said the man with the fiddle, and the irritating 
instrument was laid aside. 

“Now, den,” Uncle Remus went on, “dey’s a little chap yer 
dat you ’ll all come ter know mighty well one er deze odd-come- 
shorts, en dish yer little chap ain’t got so mighty long fer ter set 
up ’long wid us. Dat bein’ de case we oughter take ’n put de bes’ 
foot fo’mus’ fer ter commence wid.” 

“You lead, Unk Remus! You des lead en we’ll foller.” 

Thereupon the old man called to the best singers among the 
336 


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 


negroes and made them stand near him. Then he raised his right 
hand to his ear and stood perfectly still. The little boy thought 
he was listening for something, but presently Uncle Remus began 
to slap himself gently with his left hand, first upon the leg and 
then upon the breast. The other negroes kept time to this by 
a gentle motion of their feet, and finally, when the thump — 
thump — thump of this movement had regulated itself to suit the 
old man’s fancy, he broke out with what may be called a Christ¬ 
mas dance song. 

His voice was strong, and powerful, and sweet, and its range 
was as astonishing as its volume. More than this, the melody to 
which he tuned it, and which was caught up by a hundred voices 
almost as sweet and as powerful as his own, was charged with a 
mysterious and pathetic tenderness. 

The fine company of men and women at the big house — men 
and women who had made the tour of all the capitals of Europe 
— listened with swelling hearts and with tears in their eyes as the 
song rose and fell upon the air — at one moment a tempest of 
melody, at another a heart-breaking strain breathed softly and 
sweetly to the gentle winds. The song that the little boy and the 
fine company heard was something like this — ridiculous enough 
when put in cold type, but powerful and thrilling when joined to 
the melody with which the negroes had invested it: 

MY HONEY, MY LOVE 

Hit *8 a mighty fur ways up de Far 1 well Lane, 

My honey, my love ! 

You may ax Mister Crow, you may ax Mr. Crane, 

My honey, my love 1 

Dey 'll make you a how, en dey 'll tell you de same. 

My honey, my love l 

Hit's a mighty fur waysfer to go in de night. 

My honey, my love / 

My honey, my love, my heart's delight — 

My honey, my love l 


337 


NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 


Mister Mink, he creep twel he wake up de snipe. 
My honey, my love l 

Mister Bull-Frog holler, Come-a-light my pipe, 
My honey, my love l 

En de Partridge ax. Ain’t yo’ peas ripe ? 

My honey, my love 1 

Better not walk erlong dar much atter night, 

My honey, my love l 

My honey, my love, my heart's delight — 

My honey, my love l 

De Bully-Bat fly mighty close ter de groun'. 

My honey, my love / 

Mister Fox, he coax 'er, Do come down! 

My honey, my love 1 

Mister Coon, he rack all ’roun' en 'roun'. 

My honey, my love! 

In de darkes' night, oh, de nigger, he's a sight l 
My honey, my love 1 

My honey, my love, my heart's delight — 

My honey, my love! 

Oh, flee. Miss Nancy, flee ter my knee, 

My honey, my love l 

y Lev'm big fat coons lives in one tree. 

My honey, my love / 

Oh, ladies all, won't you marry me ? 

My honey, my love l 

Tu'n lef, tu'n right, we 'ull dance all night. 

My honey, my love l 

My honey, my love, my heart's delight — 

My honey, my love l 

De big Owl holler en cry fer his mate. 

My honey, my love l 

Oh, don't stay long! Oh, don't stay late / 

My honey, my love! 

Hit ain't so mighty fur ter de Good-by Gate, 

My honey, my love l 

Whar we all got ter go w'en we sing out de night, 
My honey, my love 1 

My honey, my love, my heart's delight — 

My honey, my love l 

338 


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 


After a while the song was done, and other songs were sung; 
but it was not long before Uncle Remus discovered that the little 
boy was fast asleep. The old man took the child in his arms and 
carried him to the big house, singing softly in his ear all the way; 
and somehow or other the song seemed to melt and mingle in the 
youngster’s dreams. He thought he was floating in the air, while 
somewhere near all the negroes were singing, Uncle Remus’s voice 
above all the rest; and then, after he had found a resting-place 
upon a soft warm bank of clouds, he thought he heard the songs 
renewed. They grew fainter and fainter in his dreams until at 
last (it seemed) Uncle Remus leaned over him and sang 


GOOD-NIGHT 


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